In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Hew described the former prime minister as the people’s tool and a very sharp keris that could destroy Umno’s influence in rural areas.

“Before one does something, one must sharpen one’s weapons,” he said.

He said Mahathir, who is formerly an Umno strongman, is the most powerful “tool” to destroy Umno.

Hew also hit back at Mahathir’s critics and said they were ignorant about the current situation and were full of empty talk.

Previously, Hew courted controversy when he was arrested by the police over a Facebook post on March 13, allegedly for insulting the prime minister and wife by comparing them to the Disney characters in “Beauty and the Beast”.

He was later released on March 22, before his four-day remand expired on March 24.