Former PM Mahathir mulls return to ruling party

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is considering rejoining Malaysia's ruling party, less than four months after he quit amid a feud with his successor, Mahathir's family and a government minister said yesterday.

Mahathir, who spent 22 years in power before retiring in 2003, has been one of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's harshest critics, and political observers have speculated that his only reason for re-entering the ruling party would be to help its dissidents topple Abdullah in December party elections.

International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told a news conference that Mahathir informed Muhyiddin last weekend that he is willing to rejoin the party, according to Muhyiddin's aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.