INTERVIEW | He may have once contributed to the island's development, but Dr Mahathir Mohamad is no longer able to manage Langkawi as he has become an outsider, according to his contender Nawawi Ahmad.

Nawawi, the BN incumbent MP for Langkawi, said his family has lived on the tourism island for three generations, and as a "local boy", he claimed that he, unlike Mahathir, knows what his constituents want.

Furthermore, at 56 years of age, he said he still has lots of energy to provide the best service if accorded the mandate by the people in the 14th general election.

"My advantage lies in my energy, my hard work and the focus I give to Langkawi. Mahathir, however, has no time, as he would have to look after the whole country, travelling here and there to give speeches.

"Me, I just focus on my space, Langkawi, and my advantage is that I am a Langkawi native. I was born in Langkawi and have been mixing with the community.

“I am approachable, (for example) in the market when buying fish, they (members of the community) find it easy to meet with me. That is my advantage over Mahathir," he said in an interview with Malaysiakini at Hotel Seaview Langkawi today.

Langkawi has become one of the hot seats to watch this election after it was announced that Mahathir (photo), the Pakatan Harapan chairperson and prime ministerial candidate, would be contesting there.

As it stands, the parliamentary seat is looking to turn into a three-cornered fight as Mahathir and Nawawi would also have to contend with Langkawi PAS chief Zubir Ahmad.

Nawawi will indeed have a challenge on his hands, as during Mahathir's term as prime minister over two decades, the 92-year-old is remembered for elevating the status of Langkawi – declaring it a duty-free zone in 1987 and setting up the Langkawi Development Board to spearhead the island's development.

Mahathir also frequented the island and personally monitored its progress.

Commenting on this, Nawawi opined that Mahathir made all these contributions in his capacity as prime minister, and not as an individual.

"Yes, I admit Mahathir had a hand in the island's development. Everyone respects (that), but he did not develop Langkawi in his capacity as Mahathir, but due to his responsibility as prime minister and Umno president, and because BN was ruling (the country).

"At that time, Mahathir brought in great ideas and power... but now it is not as it once was, (where) he has the ideas but not the power. So I feel nothing can happen for Langkawi," he said.