GE14 | Dr Mahathir Mohamad gatecrashed a forum assessing whether he is too old to be prime minister at the age of 93.

The former prime minister received a standing ovation when he arrived midway into the Sinar Harian forum at the Karangkraf Complex in Shah Alam.

He was given a front row seat and an opportunity to address concerns about his physical and psychological health.

On Twitter, Mahathir wrote “There is a forum on whether Tun M is too old to be PM. I am present. I am here guys. Say it to my face.”

Before Mahathir arrived, panel member and political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff had listed many reasons why the Pakatan Harapan chairperson was unfit to be PM again.

However, he seemed to soften his stance after Mahathir’s arrival.

“I just want to ask a simple question, Tun (Mahathir). You said in a 2016 speech that you did not want to be PM of the Opposition won in GE14. What made Tun suddenly change your mind?” he asked the former prime minister.

To which Mahathir replied that he had made the decision after Harapan component parties pushed him to it.

'Not senile yet'

Addressing the crowd, Mahathir explained that he had always maintained an active and disciplined life, staying away from overeating or being sedentary.

“My age has had an effect, but if your lifestyle is good and you are lucky not to have any serious illnesses (then you are okay).

“It is wrong to assume because you are 93 years old, then you can’t run to be PM. I still can.

“In fact, many people can still think (well) even when they are 100 years old.

“As far as my health is concerned, saya belum nyanyuk lagi (I am not senile yet),” he said.

In response questions on his willingness to helm the country again, the Pakatan Harapan chairperson reiterated how he had been “forced” to run for PM because he was seen as best poised to lead the charge against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“We all agreed (that we need to topple Najib) and since I have more experience in the administration as a former PM... they felt that I should lead," he explained.

Mahathir was accompanied to the forum today by his wife of six decades, Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, who dismissed concerns about her husband's health and offered her full support for her husband’s efforts.

Besides Kamarul Zaman, the forum panellists included a fitness instructor, and a psychologist.

Gatecrash not planned

Sinar Harian editorial adviser Abdul Jalil Ali clarified that Mahathir’s gatecrash had not been a planned stunt.

“We did not plan it.

“Our forums are open to everyone, we do not send invitations.

“It caught me by surprise when he came, but it was a good thing because he could answer what people were asking,” Abdul Jalil told Malaysiakini when met after the forum.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said his party chairperson had wanted to attend the forum after realising the topic was about him.

“He only decided today.

“He was briefed that the forum would be held, and when he realised that the forum was about him, he wanted to come,” Syed Saddiq told Malaysiakini.