former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced on Friday about launching a new political party, as he gears up for a possible snap election that would give him a shot to topple the man who replaced him.
Mahathir Mohamad has manifested hope for his new “independent” Malay party to be “kingmaker” in the next general election of Malaysia.
While speaking with the reporters, the 95-year-old Mahathir declared tentatively that he would chair the new party which is still nameless, while his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, would be president. He stated the necessary registration documents have yet to be submitted, but that this would be done as soon as possible.
Remembering his experience in 1969 election, when Mahathir Mohamad lost the general election in Kota Star Selatan, Kedah, due to 5,000 non-Malay votes split between him and his opponent, Dr Mahathir stated, “We may not have enough (numbers) to form a government, but we can be a party that determines who will win.
“We will be the third force and not be a part of the National Alliance or Alliance of Hope,” Mahathir stated, indicating to the ruling and opposition coalitions.
Dr Mahathir also added that the newly formed party will remain “independent” and not “tied” to anyone.
Earlier the same day, Mahathir and four others lost an effort in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to cancel their sackings from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, or Bersatu, which they established in 2016 alongside with Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin unseated Mahathir as prime minister earlier this year via an internal coup.
Mahathir announced his new group “will be based on Bersatu’s founding principles, as it has deviated from its cause.”
