“I am saddened by claims that there are division chiefs who got rid of those who were already holding positions,” the PPBM chairman said in his speech at the end of the party’s general assembly today.

“There are those who refuse to accept new blood, out of fear that they are smarter and they could defeat them in the party elections,” he said.

Mahathir reminded delegates that politics was about winning and losing, and the losers must accept their defeat.

“But to ensure we don’t lose, but at the same time we don’t allow in new blood, we will end up being alone. You will have a division, but without members,” he added.

“Look at what happened to Umno. That can happen to us too, if we don’t do things right.”

Mahathir also said he was happy with speeches by delegates which showed the party practised freedom of speech.

“They spoke freely. One even bashed a minister, as well as the party Supreme Council member. That is our freedom,” he said.

Mahathir said a party had in the past prevented certain topics from being raised by members.

He said criticism was good to act as a mirror for party leaders.

“We need mirrors. In our party, we have the best mirrors to tell us whether we have done right or wrong, and whether we are doing anything against the law.

“In our party, we appreciate criticism. At times, we accept strong criticism too, because this means we have done something terrible.

“This will be our culture in PPBM,” he said.

But Mahathir said while members could hit out at leaders, they too must be prepared to accept criticism.