KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attended a breaking-of-fast event with police officers yesterday at their headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

This was the first time that Tun Dr Mahathir was attending a mass function of police officers since winning the May 9 general election.

With him at the VVIP table later was Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Dr Mahathir's success in peacefully toppling the 61-year rule of the previous ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, had led to a petition by some Malaysians for him to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

A Change.org petition, comparing Dr Mahathir to South Africa's anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, was launched last Saturday and had gathered 137,000 signatures yesterday evening.

Asked about this on Monday, Dr Mahathir quipped: "Nobel Prize? I am not so noble."

His daughter Marina Mahathir said the Prime Minister is not one who expects to be awarded for his efforts. "It was really nice of them to do that (petition) but knowing my father, he is not a person who works hard for recognition or an award. So I don't know what to say," said Datin Paduka Marina. "I really have nothing to add... My dad says he doesn't deserve such a thing."

The petition, started by one Alexandria Abishegam, among others, says: "The fact that Dr Mahathir has also openly admitted his own faults and apologised for his mistakes of the past makes him truly a 'Giant of a Man' and a leader to emulate."

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK