Izat Bukhary had also gave his support for the Citizens’ Declaration by signing it before Dr Mahathir at a Save Malaysia forum in Taman Chandan Puteri here.

No stranger to elections, Izat Bukhary was previously a candidate in Kelantan at the 2013 general election and in two later by-elections.

His appearance today was the first time in public after seven days of the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election campaign.

“Today I am here because of Allah. I do not mean to share the stage with Tun Mahathir but today I want to say that I support him and this is my proof,” he said, signing the declaration.

The by-election was caused by the death of former MP Wan Mohamad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sarawak.

Polling for the by-election takes place on Saturday, with early polling on Tuesday.

Izat Bukhary is up against Wan Mohamad Khair-il’s widow, Mastura Mohd Yazid of Barisan Nasional, Dr Najihatussaleh Ahmad of PAS and Amanah’s Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli.

In the 2013 general election, he stood for election in Pengkalan Kubor, a state assembly seat in Kelantan, but managed only 65 votes.

He also lost in two by-election attempts, in 2014 on the death of Pengkalan Kubor assemblyman Noor Zahidi Omar, and then in Chempaka last year on the death of Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.