TOKYO • Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 91, yesterday said he would consider taking up the post again but only if there was no acceptable candidate after an opposition election victory.

"If there is really no candidate to become prime minister should the opposition win, then maybe for a short while I might try to take the job. But only on condition that everybody agrees," he said at the International Conference on the Future of Asia, organised by Nikkei.

Tun Dr Mahathir served as prime minister for 22 years until he stepped down in 2003.

But he remained influential and has over the past couple of years emerged as a leader of opposition to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

REUTERS