In a joint press conference, they said the country needed a government that genuinely cared for the people and the development of the nation, hinting that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration could fall at the vote.
“When the MPs vote for the third reading of the budget, there’s a possibility that the government may lose. If it loses, I hope those in Parliament will begin to think not about themselves but about the nation.
“We need a government that isn’t motivated by what the leaders can get but what they can contribute to the development of the county. That is the objective,” Mahathir said.
The duo said they were willing to offer themselves to help lead the nation, citing their vast experience in the government previously.
However, Mahathir maintained that he was not gunning for the prime minister’s post when repeatedly asked if he would take up the position should the PN government fall, saying this was up to the 222 MPs.
But he was quick to quip: “If everyone supports me, I’ll become prime minister tomorrow.”
Mahathir said he and Razaleigh were not asking for MPs to support them. However, he said he would not work with former prime minister Najib Razak in any new government setup, although the Pekan MP can choose to support him.
“We are of the view that we need to restart our policies to develop the country; not for our own selves or parties but for the country. That’s why we are here to work together.”
Mahathir said MPs needed to be responsible in upholding the mandate they were given in the election, which is to work for the people and not for positions or wealth.
“We see that both of us can make contributions in politics and governance to take our country back to being an Asian tiger,” Mahathir said.
The pair maintained that they were not vying for positions, with Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, saying they wanted to help the future generation as much as they could.
“We old folk can guide and lead them so their future is better. This is the world of the young, not ours,” he said.
Ku Li also said he would not vote for the approval of the final budget, although he did not specify if he would be voting against it or abstaining.
He also dismissed the notion of facing disciplinary action from his party for his stand on the budget, saying he can support whoever he wanted to.
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