Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail praised Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying that he is a leader who kept his promises.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said he got to know Mahathir closely when he was Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 2001 to 2006.

Mahathir was Malaysia’s fourth prime minister then (when he was with Barisan Nasional). He stepped down as prime minister in 2003.

"In my opinion, the prime minister (Mahathir) will do what he says he is going to do… (for example) he said that he would step down as prime minister in 2003 and kept his word,” Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said in his speech at a state banquet in conjunction with his 75th birthday celebration at Istana Arau in Arau yesterday.

The banquet was also graced by Raja Perempuan Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, Raja Muda Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.

Mahathir and wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali also attended the banquet.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said that he also respected Mahathir’s decision to offer himself to once again lead the nation to rectify the situation the country was in, and chart a better future.

"I hail Tun for volunteering to put right the things that he thinks are wrong. Thank you Tun for leading the country again," he said.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also took the opportunity to wish Mahathir and Siti Hasmah, whose birthdays had been on July 10 and July 12, respectively.

Mahathir led the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition to victory in the 14th general election on May 9, ending six decades of BN rule in the country.

Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister the next day.

- Bernama