KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has brushed aside the allegation that he had wanted to return to contest in the General Election (GE15) to become the Prime Minister for the third time.
He said the decision for the U-turn and his come back to contest in GE15 was after being pushed by Pejuang leaders.
Dr Mahathir said the question on who would become the Prime Minister if Pejuang and non-governmental organisations (NGO) with him won in GE15, had never came up.
"At first I did not want to contest. But many had urged for me to contest as the party's image would decline if I didn't.
"Many were confident if I contested for the Langkawi seat, I could at least win. I said if that is what they want, I will contest, but the decision has not been finalised.
"The question on (returning as) Prime Minster was never brought up by Pejuang and the NGOs. If I won, then it could be discussed.
"If we don't win, the strategy to name a Prime Minister candidate will not help us. Every single person we name might not be accepted by many. The question of who will be the Prime Minister will be delayed after we win GE15," Dr Mahathir said.