Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a good leader and a good man, said former MIC president S Samy Vellu.

The veteran politician, however, said his support remains with the current administration and refused further comments when pressed on the prospect of Mahathir's return as Harapan's prime minister candidate.

“You see, I won’t say anything about Dr Mahathir.

"He (Mahathir) is a good leader, good man, I worked with him for 21 years and I always go and ask him what needs to be done, and he will tell me," Samy told reporters when met at the annual Thaipusam celebration in Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur today.

Samy, who is the country's second longest serving minister, also said his support would remain with the current administration of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I always support the present (Barisan Nasional) administration.

“If anybody asks me, 'what do you think about the present prime minister?' I say, 'yes'," said Samy who is now Malaysia's Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia.

Samy added that his support would also continue for the next prime minister from Barisan Nasional to succeed Najib.

Harapan's announcement of Mahathir as its interim prime minister candidate, alongside PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy, was condemned by BN as a perceived act of desperation from the federal opposition pact.