K KANGSAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has two conditions for deputy premier Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to fulfill if the latter hopes for his return to Umno.

One is that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is removed from Umno, while the second condition is that the party is restored to its original state after Najib’s removal.

“If he removes Najib and restores Umno, there's a possibility for me to consider (returning to Umno),” Mahathir told reporters after his speech at a Citizens’ Declaration event held at Taman Chandan Putri, Kuala Kangsar today.

Mahathir was responding to Zahid, who said that he will consider, should the former premier request to return to Umno one day, before his time on earth is up.

Zahid, however, said this is based on the condition that Mahathir would not ‘backstab’ the party.

He said this when asked about Zahid yesterday saying that the Umno supreme council is ready to consider taking Mahathir back into its fold.

Zahid said he prays that Mahathir will return to Umno before he breaths his final breath, unlike other Umno presidents who had quit the party before this.

Umno's founding president Onn Jaafar, Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj and the third PM Hussein Onn quit the party and did not rejoin until their deaths.

Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali quit earlier this year to protest what they believe is misconduct by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Mahathir is on the forefront of a campaign to topple Najib as PM.