PETALING JAYA, June 24 (Sin Chew Daily) — Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has proposed to form a unity government earlier. Once he is back taking over the federal government, would he be forming a unity government? There is no definite answer.

Dr Mahathir said forming a unity government was an idea but he was uncertain that he would be forming one, adding that if he were to form a unity government, he would need to consult the various parties for consent.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Dr Mahathir said he proposed a unity government to reduce political activities and focus on nation-building. He had abandoned the proposal as Pakatan Harapan and other political parties turned it down.

"They are constantly quarreling. People are sick of political issues.

"Since racial clash 513 took place in 1969, the then Prime Minister Razak Hussein decided to cut down on political activities and decided to rope in other political parties including Lim Chong Eu ( former Gerakan president), Asri (former PAS president), Sarawak United Peoples' Party and the DAP. Only three political parties decided to join and Razak then changed the Alliance to Barisan Nasional," he said.

Elaborating further, Dr Mahathir said when he proposed the unity government, it was because he received support from both the government and the opposition. By forming a grand coalition, he could invite professionals and Umno members with a clean record to join the government.

"I can opt for more professionals to join the government without having to base on representatives from the political parties. Of course, that was my proposal. To implement the proposal I would need to have consent from my party, Pakatan Harapan and other political parties," he said.

Dr Mahathir said each political party had its own agenda to promote and the political party would not be able to play its role in the government if a unity government was formed.

Since the Sheraton Move took place and Dr Mahathir became the interim Prime Minister, he had openly expressed his intention to form a unity government where the opposition would be invited to join the government. But Pakatan Harapan, Umno and PAS objected to the proposal.

The King had called for all members of parliaments to vote for the Prime Minister. Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara disagreed to the formation of a unity government and later changed their stand to vote for Anwar Ibrahim as the Prime Minister instead. Dr Mahathir then failed to secure sufficient votes to be the country's eighth prime minister.