KUALA LUMPUR: Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram has revealed that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is stubborn, ignoring his advice to take on a role as an elder statesman instead of remaining active in politics.
He said about seven months ago, he had advised the two-time former prime minister to take on the role of an elder statesman for the developing nation, but Dr Mahathir rejected it.
"I told him that instead of continuing to be involved in politics, he should take on the role of an elder statesman. And as usual, he ignored my advice," said Jomo, 70, during a talk organised by the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia yesterday.
On Dec 16 last year, the nonagenarian resigned as chairman of Pejuang and the party then ended its cooperation and alliance with GTA (Gerakan Tanah Air) on Jan 14.
Dr Mahathir, the country's fourth and seventh premier, had failed to defend the Parliamentary seat of Langkawi, and also lost his deposit during the recent General Election (GE-15), left Pejuang to join Putra (Parti Bumiputra Perkasa Malaysia) which is led by his long-time ally Datuk Ibrahim Ali, as an advisor early this month.
Recently, Dr Mahathir described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's unity government as a "dictatorship" after the authorities decided to cancel the organisation of a rally that was supposed to be held for a "Malay Proclamation".