Nonagenarian ex-Malaysian PM to contest elections

Kuala Lumpur April 16 (IANS) Malaysia s main opposition pact has announced that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will contest the parliamentary seat of Langkawi in the May 9 general elections.

The announcement was made late on Sunday.

Mahathir 92 is now leading the multi-party opposition of Pakatan Harapan or the Alliance of Hope against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition Xinhua news agency reported.

Mahathir had led the Barisan Nasional coalition as the country s Prime Minister for 21 years. He joined the opposition after falling out with incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mahathir who once served as a medical officer in Langkawi before his political career had transformed the island into a tourism hotspot during his term from 1982-2003.

--IANS
and/in