Mahathir Mohamad says he is in a hurry to restore genuine democracy to Malaysia after leading the opposition to a historic election victory this month. But now the veteran politician is settling into his second stint as prime minister, he is reluctant to acknowledge his role in building the flawed political system that reached its nadir under Najib Razak — the former protégé he ousted at the polls.
“I want to ensure that the country becomes once again democratic,” Mr Mahathir told the Financial Times, his finger still stained with ink from the May 9 vote that toppled the ruling party he once led. “At the same time, we have to reduce the capacity for abuse by the prime minister.”
The 92-year-old has returned to power as the head of an improbable alliance of former political enemies, portraying himself as a reformer ready to move ahead after apologising for the mistakes of the past.