EXCLUSIVE | Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been the driving force behind fledgling opposition group Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in its efforts to topple its predecessor, the ruling-Malay party Umno.

As the general election nears, party sources have revealed that Bersatu is keen on fielding Mahathir as a candidate to secure them more seats in parliament.

Citing his old age, Mahathir claims to be reluctant to contest in the polls unless he is forced to by Pakatan Harapan.

But when quizzed on where he would be interested in contesting, the 92-year-old betrayed that he has been putting thought into the prospect of making a parliamentary comeback.

"Well, at the moment, of course, I am head of Langkawi branch of Bersatu, I think I can go there or I can go to Putrajaya. These two can," Mahathir told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Both Langkawi and Putrajaya hold special significance for Mahathir.

He has been credited for turning Langkawi into a major tourist destination and is the mastermind behind the building of Putrajaya as the nation's administrative capitals.

Both seats are currently held by BN.

In 2013 BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor won Putrajaya with a 5,541 vote majority, while Langkawi was won by Nawawi Ahmad with an 11,861 vote majority.

Meanwhile, Mahathir chided that he would not contest in Pekan against his arch nemesis Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I won't go to Najib’s constituency because that is a very queer constituency," he said....