Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has described the upcoming Bersatu party elections as the best avenue for members to choose between him and current premier Muhyiddin Yassin.

"Soon there will be a Bersatu election, maybe he will contest and I will. Let's see who wins but the government won't fall.

“People who are on his side hold positions, (but) he may no longer be the leader of Bersatu,” he said an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian yesterday.

Malaysiakini had reported that a showdown between the two former allies was looming with a total of 189 Bersatu divisions set to vote for their new national leadership on April 18.