PETALING JAYA: “We are all Malaysian citizens. We are all the same level, ” was the brief quip by Klang MP Charles Santiago (pic) when asked about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remark on the two of them being on “the same level”.

Santiago had on Monday (Aug 11) said in a statement that Dr Mahathir had too much power and had been making unilateral decisions for the people at a troubling frequency.

In response, Dr Mahathir sarcastically said he would ask for Santiago’s approval for future decisions.

“In the future, when I want to make a decision, I will ask Charles (Santiago) first, whether or not I can do it.

“If I can get his view, he is the same level (setaraf) as me, ” he was quoted as saying.

When asked if he would be waiting for Dr Mahathir's call, Charles said: “Of course, I will be happy... I will wait for the phone call”.

He was at a seminar on river pollution that was organised by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) on Wednesday (Aug 14).

Santiago, who is also SPAN chairman, stressed that he did not want to respond further to Dr Mahathir and wanted to move forward from the issue.

He did reiterate his suggestion for a review of the decision-making process at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

He said that controversial issues should be discussed at the council meeting before being brought to the Cabinet, as promised in the coalition's GE14 manifesto.