INTERVIEW | Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was so averse to having his children being actively involved in politics that he once threw a fit after finding out that there were plans to field his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, in the 1999 general election.

The former Kedah menteri besar recalled how the current Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Mohd Khalil Yaakob, wanted to field him in as a candidate for a parliamentary seat when his father was prime minister.

"He said 'be ready, I will be putting your name in'. Khalil was Umno secretary-general at the time.

"Later, Khalil told me my father threw a fit when he saw my name there, he asked 'whose work is this?' and struck it out.

"He (Mahathir) could have let me contest, but yet he didn't because he was sticking to his principles," Mukhriz told Malaysiakini in an interview.

This is why Muhkriz finds it simply absurd when Mahathir's critics continue to claim that his father is back in politics simply to ensure that his son becomes prime minister.

"For him, to do all of this – to go against (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak, leave Umno, form a new party, join Pakatan Harapan, mend all bridges with Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang, Mohamad Sabu - all that so he can make me prime minister? I think that's absurd."

The process is also one that is so tedious, that he must first contest in a parliamentary seat and that his party Bersatu must win the majority seats in Parliament.

"And normally it's the president of the party that's picked as prime minister. The majority of the MPs need to agree on this, then the name has to be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong."

Mukhriz added: "To say that Mahathir single-handledly wants to pick me as prime minister I think is a bit absurd."

He even sees the position of prime minister position as a bane, rather than a boon.

"I know what it's like, I was the son of a prime minister for 22 years, the responsibility is so massive.

"One has to make decisions involving 30 million people every day. If one cannot accept such a huge responsibility, I don't think one can sleep at night."

Not ready to be PM

The former menteri besar also thinks that he is neither eligible nor ready to become prime minister.

"As politicians, we have to be open to any possibility, but if someone were to come to me today and offer me the prime minister's post, I would say 'sorry, I am not eligible'.

"I was only menteri besar for two-and-a-half years, I can't suddenly be the prime minister," Mukhriz said.

Most people only see the prime minister's post as one that comes with power. This is why he is of the opinion that Najib is simply holding on to power and, at the same time, neglecting his responsibilities.

"I have very little ambition to be prime minister, I can say that categorically.

"If my father wanted me to be even a minister he could have done it so easily when he was prime minister for 22 years. No one would have made it an issue if he did that," he said.

Mukhriz, in his written witness statement to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, did not rule out setting his sights on the prime minister's post.

However, he insisted, this should be done in the proper manner.

Mukhriz's foray into politics started in 2004 after he was elected to the Umno Youth executive council. This was after his father's resignation as prime minister the year earlier.

He won the Jerlun parliamentary seat in the 2008 general election, and was appointed as deputy minister of international trade and industry under the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration.

In the 2013 general election, he contested the Ayer Hitam state seat in Kedah, and became the state's menteri besar. In early 2016, Umno Kedah assemblypersons declared that they lost confidence in him.

Mukhriz resigned a month later, after losing the support of the majority of the state assemblypersons.

Regardless of whether Mahathir wants his son to become prime minister, it is he who is expected to take up the post again should Harapan win in coming 14th general election.

Mukhriz admits this would put him in an awkward position, especially if he were to be part of the cabinet.

"It would be a departure from my father’s own principles," Mukhriz admitted.

He has even asked Mahathir about such a possibility. His father, however, has yet to give him an answer on this.

While there is this awkward possibility and the possibility of claims of nepotism being hurled at Mahathir, Mukhriz claimed there are others who say how it is no longer about nepotism.

And it was Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin (photo above) himself who had spoken to Mahathir about wanting Mukhriz appointed as his deputy in the party.

"I have to admit that before this, I was not the one of choice if it were to be decided by my father. I suppose he didn't want to be accused of nepotism.

"From what I understand, both Muhyiddin and Mohd Shafie Apdal spoke to him and said it's not about nepotism, it's about taking full advantage of the resources you have and then putting them at the right place."

As such, Mukhriz is unsure whether this will also be a consideration when it comes to appointing cabinet members.

"I leave it solely to the top leadership. While I totally understand there is this fear of being accused of nepotism, I think the counter-argument is equally strong," he said.

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