Having the plug pulled on the Perdana Leadership Foundation won't tug any of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's heartstrings.

The former prime minister said he was ready to have the foundation taken away from him, and was only sad at the thought of the country's future.

"I wish to thank Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun for suggesting the government stop all financial assistance to the Perdana Leadership Foundation, including wages.

"I accept this. Seize it... I will not feel loss when the seizure is made.

"I know and am used to life without privileges, I only grieve when I think of this beloved country's future," Mahathir said in a blog posting today.

Mahathir lamented that youth leaders were showing signs of corruption even before ascending to power.

He argued that giving bribes and taking away funding to silence critics were both forms of corruption.

"(So) the country knows that when Khairul Azwan and his followers achieve power - through corruption - the country will see bribes and seizures by the government as a way to hold on to power."

Khairul Azwan yesterday urged Putrajaya to stop providing financial assistance to the Perdana Leadership Foundation, of which Mahathir is the honorary president.

The Umno Youth number two said this was necessary because Mahathir had been using the foundation as a platform to topple the government.

According to its official website, the Perdana Leadership Foundation is a non-profit organisation that survives solely on private contributions.