What is madhatters agenda on not contesting in the next erection? is he expecting an invite from Anwar etc so that he can name the term of his return?
Simple lah , Mahathir is the only politician who enjoys respect among all the Malaysian Parties , whether be it racist DAP or Malay chauvinist UMNO ...every political party in Malaysia will give an arm and leg for his support , even his nemeses like Tunku Razaleigh , who had fought Dr M for decades
in short , almost every one in Malaysian politics would love to have him but not as a PM , they simply cannot tolerate his style of governance
even when Dr M became the PM after the last GE , it was an interim arrangement for 2 years only ...simply because Dr M was the one who actually defeated UMNO ...and imagine , if someone in Sinkieland could defeat PAP , than that individual would certainly become the PM material ...moreover , Mahathir was the only one DAP , the largest political party in Malaysia , will accept as a PM other than the Anwar ...and Anwar was in jail at that point of time , neither was Anwar and elected MP either ...moreover even if Anwar to be released , the law bars him standing for election for a period of 5 years ..that only could be circumvented by Agong pardon ...only Dr M was capable of doing that
so , you see , Dr M was and is huge factor in Malaysian politics , hence almost all want his support but not as PM