Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin said he believed Dr Mahathir had been prompted to set up a new opposition party as he knew he could not depend on the existing ones after the failures of DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara at the Sarawak state elections and parliamentary by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar.

“If he was confident with his new allies, namely the DAP, PKR and PAN (Amanah), he wouldn’t have to set up a new party. For me, this is indeed a major slap in the face for DAP, PKR and PAN…to see a 90-year-old statesman re-enter politics and form a new (opposition) party,” he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house here today.

Dr Mahathir announced on Thursday that he would set up a new party which will join a new opposition pact in facing the 14th general election. He said the new party would be formed as the current opposition parties available were “not attractive”.