The former prime minister gave his opinion when he was asked when would he call for the polls if he were the current premier of Malaysia.
Asked if there were enough feel-good factors to conduct the elections, Dr Mahathir said: “There are good signs (to hold the elections) but it is up to (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on whether he is convinced he can achieve his objectives.”
He also expressed confidence that Barisan Nasional would be able to perform better in the next general election compared to the 2008 polls.
On the Bersih 3.0 rally’s impact on the coming elections, Dr Mahathir said the people would realise that the gathering had strayed from its purpose.
“Bersih was not about Bersih. It is about giving the picture that the Government is oppressive and highlighting police brutality so that they can overthrow the Government by the demonstration,” he told reporters after being named the National Reading Icon at the National Library here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir added that Bersih 3.0 did not represent the population nor the voters in the country.
Asked whether PAS was being used by the DAP, he said PAS desperately needed support from the DAP to the extent that they have “buried” their goal of establishing an Islamic state.