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Dr Mahathir Mohamad has advised the opposition against naming their choice for prime minister now.

"If we name the PM there will be others who will be disappointed and there will be quarrels among us. At the moment we can't name the PM," Mahathir said when met at the Malaysiakini office tonight.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson said the choice of opposition PM should instead be named sometime closer to the general election.

"(The PM) must be (chosen) by popular support of all (opposition) parties, not just by one party," the former premier added.

Mahathir was met after speaking at a forum organised by youth group Challenger, on the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said recently that Pakatan Harapan, which Bersatu is now allies with, will be naming their choice for prime minister soon.

The consensus among Harapan parties PKR, DAP and Amanah appears to be that jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is still their choice for prime minister.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang however, has suggested that PKR president and Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail be appointed as interim PM, while Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin would be the interim deputy premier.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli had called on the oppostion to stop talking about who will be prime minister, and focus instead on bread and butter issues.

Harapan leaders however, insist that this has to be done as this is a matter of public interest and would ensure that the opposition stays united if they come to power.