KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept 17, 2025 – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today cautioned against the intense competition among Malay leaders vying to be named prime ministerial candidates, urging instead for unity to secure political victory.
In a statement, Dr Mahathir expressed puzzlement over the scramble to be selected as a prime ministerial candidate, emphasizing that such ambitions are futile without securing at least 112 parliamentary seats.
“A candidate cannot become Prime Minister if their party fails to win 112 seats,” he said, noting that achieving this requires fielding candidates in more than 112 constituencies while facing opposition from rival parties.
Dr Mahathir argued that it is “highly unlikely” for any single party to secure the necessary seats, rendering the race for the prime ministerial candidacy premature.
“There’s no need to compete to be a prime ministerial candidate,” he stated. Instead, he called for Malay unity as the critical factor for electoral success. “Only when the Malays are united can victory be achieved,” he stressed.
He proposed that the selection of a Prime Minister should occur only after a coalition secures victory, allowing all capable and talented leaders to contest for the role at that stage.
Dr Mahathir’s remarks come amid ongoing political maneuvering ahead of future elections, highlighting the need for strategic collaboration over individual ambition within the Malay political landscape.