Former Malaysia prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has vowed to make a political comeback if there are wrongdoings in the administration of current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and as long as people still want him.

The 94-year-old feisty former premier laid down these conditions for when he shall return to politics in an interview with Nikkei Asian Review.

Mahathir said, referring to his party cadres and supporters: "Even now, they are coming to see me."

"I tell them, look, I'm old, 94 years old, but they say they (don't) see people with experience."

"I had experience as PM for many, many years (and) I learned something, so they think that I can resolve many of the problems."

Mahathir also said it would be selfish of him to retire because he is still Langkawi MP.

It is a position he wants to keep until the next election.

"I cannot stand seeing a government that does something wrong. I feel I have a duty to do something," he said.

Asked if he wants to run in the next general election, due in 2023, Mahathir said he is willing to if the people wish it.

"If you ask me, I don't want to do it because by then, I would be 98." he said.

Take pot shots at Anwar again

Mahathir once again reiterated his stance against his presumed successor, and arch-rival-turned-ally Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir said that since 1998, the 72-year-old had been impatient to become the country's prime minister.

Mahathir and Anwar were the number one and two in Umno previously.

"Well, I think he has always been impatient," Mahathir explained.

"During the last time when he was in Umno, I promoted him until he was the second man, where he would take over when I retired."

Mahathir said he trained Anwar to be his successor during his first stint as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

"But he couldn't wait because I was staying too long and he started some movement to overthrow me but of course, he failed," he said.

"He was campaigning, through his boys, to ask me to step down."

"I felt that I will step down when I think that it is safe to step down," he said.

On Najib getting away

On Najib, Mahathir said he fears the former prime minister might use his current influence in Umno to tune down the charges in relation to former state wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad and its subsidiary SRC International.

Najib currently faces 42 money laundering and corruption charges.

"The government may (now) need to please (Najib and Zahid) by not charging them more," Mahathir said.

"Alternatively, (Najib) may want to leave the country... during my time, he was not allowed to leave the country."

"But now he might leave the country either legally or illegally, stay abroad and escape punishment like Jho Low," he said referring to the fugitive businessman.

Jho Low is currently on the run from Interpol and is believed to be in China.

On meeting Muhyiddin

Mahathir said the only condition for meeting Muhyiddin is if the current prime minister could assure that the criminal prosecutions on former prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be carried out without any obstructions.

Muhyiddin had put out a statement on March 11 that he had written Mahathir to say he would like to meet him soon.

No regrets resigning

On his resignation as prime minister on Feb. 24, Mahathir said he did not regret it.

"I don't regret resigning. Thinking about it now, I only did what was right when my own party didn't agree to my views," he said.

His disagreements with the leadership of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, including Muhyiddin, was over the breakaway faction's desire to form a new government with Umno and PAS.

However, he does have his regrets.

Mahathir said he was disappointed when some MPs switched sides to support Anwar and Muhyiddin after promising to support him initially.

"Well, I feel disappointed. Disappointed because they all practically swore and even signed statutory declarations saying that they supported me, but it's all bluff," he said.

Mahathir added that some of these lawmakers intended to break Pakatan Harapan away from DAP by using him as a wedge.