PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is mulling legal action against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over alleged remarks he made several years ago about the former premier’s Indian ancestry in his identification card.

       He also challenged Ahmad Zahid to show evidence of his identity that disputed his race as a Malay.

       “If he doesn’t apologise and retract the statement, I will take legal action,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page Tuesday (May 17).

       “Last time, during the 14th general election campaign, he issued a statement alleging that my original identity card named me as Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.

       "He alleged that my blue IC with the said name was sent to him by the National Registration Department (NRD) director-general,” said Dr Mahathir

       "I waited to see what proof Zahid was coming up with to show to the public. But nothing happened even after the 2018 general election ended.”

       Not denying that he has "Indian blood", Dr Mahathir noted that his lineage was mentioned in his book.

       "However, my birth certificate and identity card are Mahathir bin Mohamad.

       "According to the definition in the Malaysian Constitution (Article 160), I am Malay and my struggle is to defend the interests of my race.

       "My parents were born in Malaya before Merdeka and we are all Muslims. Since childhood, my family speak Malay at home and we practise Malay custom," he said.

       On July 30, 2017, Ahmad Zahid, who was both deputy prime minister and home minister then, alleged in a speech that the NRD informed him that Dr Mahathir’s original name was “Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.”

       On April 20 this year, Ahmad Zahid filed a defamation suit against Dr Mahathir over the allegation that he met Dr Mahathir to discuss his court case before the latter’s reappointment as prime minister in 2018.

       In his statement of claim, he said that Dr Mahathir had maliciously made untrue, unfounded and defamatory remarks against him.