Several weeks after Pakatan Harapan's downfall, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that he would observe the new government's performance before deciding whether to accept Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's request for a meeting.

In an interview with Indonesia's news magazine Tempo, Mahathir alluded to the corruption trials against several Umno leaders, stressing that his focus is on whether the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact would "protect crooks" who are now its allies in the government.

"If, for instance, there is (executive) interference in the judicial process, then I will not meet him...