PAS MUKTAMAR | Dr Mahathir Mohamad received rare praise from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who described him as more "mature" compared to his first stint as prime minister.

"Society changes, the situation changes and so has Mahathir's thinking. He has more experience now.

"He has learned from his past mistakes and by doing so he has become more mature," he told a press conference after officiating the 64th PAS muktamar in Kuala Terengganu today.

Hadi said his praise was due to Mahathir fulfiling his promise to grant oil royalties to PAS-led Kelantan and Terengganu.

He also joked a 90-year-old Mahathir was different from a 40-year-old Mahathir.

While officiating the muktamar earlier, Hadi had acknowledged the oil royalty granted to the two east coast states by Putrajaya.

"We say thank you and it is a positive development in our effort to revive the spirit of federalism, which was weakened in the past," he said.

Mahathir was the fourth prime minister from 1981 to 2003. During that time, he had cut off oil royalty to opposition-led states and instead channelled them through federal entities.

This practised was continued by subsequent BN governments.

Prior to the 14th general election, in which Mahathir led Pakatan Harapan to capture federal power, Hadi suggested that the 93-year-old former doctor would be better off serving in a 1Malaysia clinic.

"By right, he – a doctor by profession – should work at a 1Malaysia Clinic to give free treatment to patients, and do charity.

"But he is contesting in the general election, I pity him," Hadi had said.

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