The former prime minister has been criticised by several Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS leaders following the loss of the candidates he supported in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar last Sunday.
Amanah Vice-President Mujahid Yusof Rawa, saying Mahathir had proved that he held to the principle of putting the nation first, slammed those who have been telling the former prime minister to quit politics and rest.
“Those who say so do not understand the demands of party politics and national politics. Mahathir is not in favour of partisan politics, instead he sided with the campaign ‘Selamatkan Negara’ which is cross-partisan.
“It is impossible that he would support BN candidates who are the reason for the catastrophes in the country today. It is also impossible that he would support PAS which has no stance but is, in fact, ‘Najib-friendly’ despite the scandals the country is facing today,” Mujahid said in a statement today.
The Parit Buntar MP thanked Mahathir for giving distinctiveness to the campaign which, he said, had opened a new political chapter.
“On behalf of the entire Amanah machinery, I thank the efforts made by Mahathir and his wife as well as the Citizens’ Declaration team who worked together with Amanah and Pakatan Harapan for the ‘Selamatkan Malaysia’ campaign in the by-elections recently,” he said.
Previously, Prime Minister Najib Razak had quipped that Mahathir should continue supporting the Opposition as it would benefit BN.
Today, PAS Youth Chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz did not miss the chance to advise the 91-year-old leader to spend more time praying and repenting.
Meanwhile, Mujahid said Mahathir’s actions were no different from the actions of the first prime minister who supported the Opposition at one time.
“It is not easy for a former Umno president to do so even though the Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman had campaigned on APU’s (Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah) stage at one time as a former prime minister and former Umno president.”