KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has never indicated that he wanted to take over as the country's premier early.

In his interview with Sin Chew Daily recently, Dr Mahathir said as the progress to restructure the government has only been done about 30% to 40%, he hopes to have a time frame of more than two years to rationalise the government.

Dr Mahathir said Anwar has never objected to his intention to be Prime Minister for more than two years.

"He (Anwar) never said no, he has been expressing his support to me. He never said anything about assuming the Prime Minister role earlier," he said.

Dr Mahathir also said the toughest part of restoring the country has already been resolved, and therefore the implementation of the plan to lead the country to a brighter future can be escalated this year.

"I expected the time to be two years, or longer, for me to at least restore certain part of the country. Probably 30% to 40% has been done, but we will escalate, the toughest part of it has already been resolved," he said.

"I want to give myself about two years plus, maybe more than two years. Do you know two years later I will be 95 years old? I am already very old," he added.

Nonetheless, Dr Mahathir said he doesn't mind keeping his promise of handing over the Prime Minister role if he is asked to do so two years later.

Asked whether Anwar is destined to take over as Prime Minister after him, Dr Mahathir stressed that after his two-year tenure, or more, as Prime Minister, Anwar will be the candidate to take over.

"He (Anwar) will be the Prime Minister candidate after me," he said.

Therefore, Dr Mahathir said there is no need for Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council to have a discussion to deliberate on whether to stay put with the current leadership structure for the next five years.

"No (need to discuss), Pakatan Harapan already decided (to hand over the Prime Minister role to Anwar two years later)," he reportedly said.

Nonetheless, Dr Mahathir conceded that there are member parties within Pakatan Harapan that hope he could remain as Prime Minister.

"Some people, in the meeting, express their hope for me to remain as Prime Minister, this is natural, but there are (also) people [thinking] that I should keep my promise," he said.

Asked whether Anwar has the capability to assume the Prime Minister role, Dr Mahathir declined to comment.

"I will not make any comment (on Anwar's capability), because when we form Pakatan Harapan, we already agreed that he will be my successor," he said.

"I never said whether he is good or not good, what they wanted me to promise was: I will never stay on to be Prime Minister for a long period of time.

"Within Pakatan Harapan, Anwar is already PKR President. I have already promised to relinquish this position, I am here just to help [win] the General Election," he added.

Dr Mahathir also denied that he suggested Anwar to take over as deputy Prime Minister first, replacing his wife Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.