“I cannot say whether it is two years or three years, but I will certainly step down as I promised.

“Although there are lots of people who have been asking me to carry on until the next election, that is their view.

“My commitment is to step down before the next election, certainly,” he said in an interview with Sydney Morning Herald.

Asked whether he would be handing over the reins to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim instead of someone else, Mahathir simply said: “Yes I will.”

There have been rumours recently of a move to form a new government by the back door, through negotiations among political leaders.

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, perceived to be a close ally of Mahathir’s, has made several calls for Mahathir to remain as prime minister throughout Pakatan Harapan’s five-year mandate.

Azmin recently dismissed a claim he had secretly met former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to hatch a plan to stop Anwar from replacing Mahathir as part of a succession plan agreed by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Mahathir had come under pressure to specify a date to hand over power to Anwar, as agreed by PH leaders before the 2018 general election.

The 94-year-old prime minister had repeatedly stated he would keep his word to step down after about two years.