Mahathir gets offer to join Opposition

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed has been invited by two Opposition parties to join them after his announcement that he was resigning immediately from the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), the main partner in the ruling National Front coalition.

The invitations to join the Islamic party (PAS) And Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), or People's Justice Party were extended to Dr Mahathir, who was Prime Minister and UMNO president for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, by PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy PM and deputy UMNO president ousted by Mahathir in 1998. Abdul Hadi said he always welcomed Dr Mahathir to join PAS. While Dr Wan Azizah said PKR's doors were always open for Dr Mahathir if he was interested in joining the party.

-The Asian Age