KUALA LUMPUR:Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad vowed to stand firm with his decision to not work with Pekan Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to form a government.

The former prime minister said that he still adhered to the principle that Najib was the real reason why the country has derailed from the right track to becoming a developed nation.

Dr Mahathir explained that if he could accept Najib, he would have agreed to become the Prime Minister for Perikatan Nasional (PN).

“I cannot cooperate with Najib. I apologise, I was invited to be the Prime Minister before Tan Sri Muhyiddin became the Prime Minister (again).

“I told them that a government that relies on Datuk Seri Najib (to be a government) is not something I can accept. But, Muhyiddin said he could accept. He took it,” said Dr Mahathir at a joint-press conference with UMNO advisory chairman, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah today.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the former chairman of Pakatan Harapan, said this when asked if he was willing to work with Najib to overthrow the Muhyiddin-led PN government.

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At the same press conference, Dr Mahathir also said he hoped that members of the Dewan Rakyat would reject the Third Reading of the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021, scheduled on Tuesday (tomorrow).

He also said that the rejection could be translated as a rejection to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.