PETALING JAYA, June 25 (Sin Chew Daily) — Dr Mahathir Mohamad's priority is to clean up the government for people to share the wealth of the nation if he becomes the 9th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

In an exclusive virtual interview with Sin Chew Daily, he said the first task would be clean up the government.

"To clean up the government, we appoint professionals to be managers and chief executive officers as they are more qualified. We know many CEOs appointed by Najib are corrupted. They steal money and screw up the companies. Hence, we remove them for the professionals to takeover.

"Now that the professionals have been removed. Those people whom they bring in, some are facing corruption trial but appointed as chairman of government-link corporations.

"We want to remove these politicians for the professionals to return.

"Secondly, I have some views on the managing national economy. We have drafted new policies to share the nation's wealth fairly. I have many ideas on how to implement them such as driving the economy in rural areas so that the income gap between rural and urban can be narrowed. We have drafted all these including education policy. I have spent time and effort to work on them.

"When I am about to implement these plans, I am no longer the Prime Minister," he said.

'Not interested to be PM again after 24 years as PM twice'

Dr Mahathir said in fact he is not interested to be the Prime Minister after spending 24 years as Prime Minister of Malaysia twice. But he is worried that Pakatan Harapan Plus does not have sufficient Malay support.

"I have been a Prime Minister twice for 24 years. I am not interested to be the Prime Minister. But if I am not around, I am worried the Pakatan Harapan may not have sufficient Malay support."

Although the 'Mahathir-Anwar' pair negotiation failed where Dr Mahathir would not have any talk with Pakatan Harapan at the moment, he said he only requested for a minimum of six months to accomplish tasks that he wishes to complete.

Dr Mahathir stressed that he has drawn up a comprehensive plan. Hence, a six-month period is enough for him.

UEC: Not making decision alone

The ruling coalition will decide on the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). He would not be making the decision alone, says Dr Mahathir.

"This will not be decided by me but the entire ruling coalition. The recognition of UEC has pros and cons," he said.

The government should be working towards building a caring society made up of Malaysians who are patriotic and ready to contribute to the nation.

"When we launch Wawasan 2020, shaping the identity of a Malaysian is one of the targets. We want to achieve this. Please remember we are a multiracial country," he said.

The current government would decide whether to release the content of the time capsule.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad had planned to open the Wawasan 2020 time capsule concealed when he was the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia. But he quit after the Pakatan Harapan government collapsed and an opposition MP now. 

Dr Mahathir said now he can’t unearth the five time capsules concealed in 1987, 1994 and 1996 respectively. The current government would decide whether to release the content of the time capsule.

In jest, Dr Mahathir said: "I have concealed many time capsules. They may still be there. It is up to the current government whether to open them up,’’ he said.

Asked whether he should be the person to open the time capsule, Dr Mahathir said, "No".

"I am not allowed to do anything now. People can’t even friend me. If you are my friend, you may be summoned (for questioning)," he said.