Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak still has a lot of work to do before calling the recent negotiations with Singapore a success.

mahathir ikmal presidential lecture 290410

"I at first hoped that all outstanding matters will be settled, but it would seem that a lot of issues have been left untouched," he said.

He pointed to the still unresolved issue of the price of water to be supplied to the island nation after 2011, the Central Provident Fund contributions for Malaysians working in Singapore and the third bridge as some of the issues which the negotiations have left unaddressed.

All three issues has been sore points which continue to plague Malaysia-Singapore relations, especially the price of water which has been caused several disagreements between Malaysia and Singapore, most notably under Mahathir's rule.

"I am also studying other facets of the agreement and see if it conforms to the Points of Agreement that has been agreed previously," said Mahathir.

He hoped that Najib will continue to iron out the outstanding issues.

"Only half the matters have been resolved, he has to go on solving them, especially with regards to the (third) bridge, because the existing causeway and bridge is very congested," he said.

Mahathir told this to reporters in a press conference after delivering the keynote address at the fifth Malaysian Healthy Ageing Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

'Don't overstay welcome'

Quizzed about MIC president S Samy Vellu and the conflict brewing in the Indian party, Mahathir repeated his earlier stand, hinting that perhaps it is time for the veteran MIC leader to step down.

NONE "I am not speaking on behalf of Umno...but long ago I had said, one must not overstay one's welcome, which is one reason why I stepped down. Samy Vellu has served longer than me. That establishes some kind of record. I think that one should be satisfied with that," said the former premier.

Mahathir also called upon Samy's son and newly appointed CWC member Vell Paari to substantiate his claims that Umno is engaging in the 'political assassination' of his father.

Asked about the sports betting license recently issued by the government Mahathir was tacitly supportive of the government decision.

"The government decided that they should have it, I understand that the reason is that if it is not legalised, it will still go on illegally.

"Muslims should not be involved, and I don't think they will allow them to be involved in it. But there will be Muslims involved in illegal betting.

While not denying that the tax revenue would help to fill government coffers, Mahathir said that the government also wanted to control upon the industry.

VIDEO | 2 mins