Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he is only willing to consider meeting with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin if the latter rids of "corrupt Umno people".

“I have not met him yet. Why should I meet him unless he is ready to get rid of the corrupt Umno people?

“Even then, I will have to consider it first," he was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier today, Umno supreme council leader Wan Saiful Wan Jan revealed that Muhyiddin had requested a meeting with Mahathir.

This amid a feud as Mahathir is upset at Muhyiddin (photo) for forming the new government with Umno, which has several leaders on trial for corruption.

Mahathir, who was in Langkawi to explain to Bersatu grassroots members about the political situation, confirmed receiving a letter from Muhyiddin requesting for the meeting.

The Langkawi MP maintained that he cannot work with the corrupt.

“I can’t work with people who have been charged in court with stealing billions of ringgit," he said.

Mahathir reiterated that he is only willing to accept some Umno leaders after they quit their party and join Bersatu.

“However, Muhyiddin is ready to accept the party en bloc, including those charged,” he was quoted as saying.

Muhyiddin had taken Bersatu out of Harapan to form a new coalition with rogue PKR MPs, BN, PAS and GPS.

During this time, Mahathir had envisioned his own version of a new government, one that did not follow party lines and sought support from MPs for this idea but was out-manoeuvred by Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1. He is expected to announce his cabinet line-up on Tuesday.