Mahathir: I will return if I have support

Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday said he would form a new non-partisan government if he is elected to return as Malaysia's prime minister, as the king completed consultations with lawmakers to resolve a crisis caused by the abrupt collapse of Mahathir's coalition.

Two days after his shocking resignation, Mahathir confirmed that his Bersatu party ditched the alliance in a bid to form a government with the party of disgraced ex-leader Najib Razak, who is on trial for corruption, and a fundamentalist Islamic party.

The move had thwarted a pre-election agreement by Mahathir to hand over power to his named successor, Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir said he had quit to show he wasn't power crazy and because he could not work with the corruption-tainted United Malays National Organization party of Najib Razak, which he had ousted in 2018 elections.

He made no mention of Anwar in his televised speech, but reiterated that the lower house of parliament should be the one to pick the prime minister.

“If I really still have support, I will return. If not, I will accept whoever succeeds me," said Mahathir, the world's oldest leader at 94.

“I am not aiming to be popular," Mahathir said, adding: “I just want to do what is best for the country."

Anwar's camp, as well as UMNO and the Islamic party, have rejected Mahathir's proposed non-partisan government.

Malaysia's king accepted Mahathir's shocking resignation on Monday and dissolved the cabinet, but reappointed him as interim leader until a new government is formed