Nazri speculated that Mahathir went ahead because Pakatan Harapan leaders did not want him and his son, Mukhriz.

He said Pakatan leaders knew that Mahathir’s intention was to promote Mukhriz for future political leadership.

Nazri, an Umno supreme council member noted for his outspokenness and acerbic remarks, pointed to the family relationships already existing in Pakatan Harapan.

Lim Kit Siang as DAP advisor already had his son, Lim Guan Eng, as DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister while Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, is a PKR vice-president.

Mahathir’s intentions have already been the subject of speculation, and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin had repeatedly stated that the former premier intended to push up Mukhriz as a possible deputy to a caretaker prime minister and eventually to take over.

Nazri said he welcomed Mahathir’s announcement on Thursday of his intention to form a new political party, as being in keeping with the practice of parliamentary democracy, Bernama reported.

“I see he has listened to me about forming a new party instead of yelling in the streets by holding demonstrations, because it will not go anywhere and it is not the way,” Nazri said in remarks to the press at an Adilfitri open house here in his constituency.

“Whichever party is formed, Barisan Nasional will surely fight against it at the coming general election,” he said, according to Bernama.

He likened Mahathir’s supporters to “hantu raya” (Raya ghosts) without a home who could only have a new house by forming a new party.

However, while expressing hope that the people would continue to respect Mahathir as a former premier, Nazri took another swipe at the former premier, saying the rakyat should not follow Mahathir’s ways. Turning one of Mahathir’s slogans against himself, Nazri said Mahathir’s ways clearly showed that “Melayu mudah lupa”.