Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is coy on whether he would campaign in the twin by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, or disclose which party he would support.

Instead, he said he "may" campaign in the by-elections, and would support any party that has signed the Citizens' Declaration.

“I may. If I am asked to, I would go. I fully support the candidates who signed the declaration. I don’t support candidates who don’t.

“I don’t belong to any party. I am not even in Umno because there is no more Umno. There is only Najib’s party, so that’s why I have left Najib’s party […]

“I am not campaigning for Amanah. I am campaigning for a candidate who believes in the declaration,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur when asked.

However, Mahathir pointed out that PAS has not pledged support for the declaration.

"If PAS signed, I would support them also, but the party didn’t sign,” he said.

The Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-election campaign kicked off this morning, with the polling day set for June 18.

Previously, former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim had told Malaysiakini that Mahathir had already started campaigning for Amanah in the two by-elections, and Mahathir was asked today if this was true.

Mahathir is the mastermind behind the Citizens' Declaration, which was formulated with input from various groups and individuals, including members of the opposition parties and civil society.

Those present at the launch of the declaration included PAS election director Mustafa Ali and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, but both Mustafa and PAS had said that the former’s presence was in his personal capacity.

The declaration urges that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak be removed from office through democratic means, and for reforms to take place.

The signing of the declaration proved controversial, as some activists and politicians questioned the move to cooperate with the very person who undermined Malaysia’s institutions.