Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not be allowed to be the prime minister if Pakatan Harapan wins the general election, according to Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

He claimed that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang would not allow Mahathir to helm the nation again after what the former premier did to them in the past.

“Not to mention that it would be political suicide for Harapan if they face the general election promising the voters a return to Mahathirism,” he said in a blog posting.

Salleh said if the 92-year-old politician believes he would become prime minister again, then he must be losing track of reality.

The minister also reminded Mahathir of the 2004 general election, where BN scored its best election result in history after the former premier retired a year earlier to be replaced by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said voters were glad to see Mahathir go into retirement.

Salleh claimed the offer for Mahathir to become Harapan's prime minister is not genuine and merely to convince him to continue attacking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“Mahathir is desperate and realises that, against the backdrop of the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry) on the Bank Negara US$10 billion forex scandal, not only is his legacy headed for doom but his political dynasty is never going to happen as well and Mukhriz has no hope of ever becoming prime minister.

“So this is the best time to exploit Mahathir’s desperation and make him increase his attacks on Najib with the promise of the post of prime minister,” he said.

Salleh also claimed that the hypocrisy demonstrated by Harapan is so visible that only those who are extremely ignorant would not be able to see it.

“Principles and morals no longer prevail and Harapan would say and do anything no matter how ridiculous it is just to fool the voters into believing they have a winning formula when in reality their leadership lineup is a disaster waiting to happen.

“Harapan thinks that the voters can be easily fooled and by mere deception they can win the next general election but the voters can see right through it,” he added.