KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s willingness to repair his relationship with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may be due to Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) need to fund its state elections’ campaigning, Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi claimed today.

The Umno Supreme council member said since Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s funds are now frozen amid an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, it may need a "mega donation”.

"It’s not surprising that Muhyiddin is prepared to work with Dr Mahathir even though he has no party,” he wrote on Facebook, referring to the latter — a former Bersatu chairman who has also left his newest party, Parti Pejuang Tanahair.

"Muhyiddin is probably friends again with Dr Mahathir due to money factor and Dr Mahathir still has a lot of money and resources. We will see how PN offers charity during the state election later.”

He also directed his barbs at PAS, pointing to how the Islamist party had exploited the situation when PN had "spent lavishly” for its 15th general election campaign.

Last week, Bersatu president Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir had through the media made public their willingness to rekindle their political relationship following the bitter "Sheraton Move” that saw Dr Mahathir’s 2018 Pakatan Harapan administration collapse with Muhyiddin succeeding him as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said he is willing to work with political ally-turned-enemy Muhyiddin if they can reach a consensus on mutual goals, indicating a potential reconciliation between the two leaders after their previous alliance in his 2018 administration.

In response, Muhyiddin said he is prepared to work with Dr Mahathir again for the sake of the Malay-Muslim majority in the country.

Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir were known to be close allies and had worked together in Bersatu after leaving Umno.

Muhyiddin who is also Pagoh MP was expelled from Umno and later sacked as deputy prime minister in 2016 for criticising then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s role in the 1MDB financial scandal.