Following former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s scathing attack on one of his successors Najib Abdul Razak’s administration, an MCA Youth leader said the former premier should contest in the Permatang Pauh by-election on the opposition ticket.

“This former prime minister’s arguments are not fresh topics. Its contents and topic are pirated from the opposition’s rhetoric.

“Therefore, Mahathir is no longer suited to stay in BN, nor does BN need such veterans.

"His existence would only weaken BN and the government, hence boosting the opposition’s chances of taking power,” Pahang MCA Youth secretary Quek Tai Seong ( right ) said in a statement today.

In his latest string of attacks against Najib and his administration, Mahathir had written in his blog yesterday that BN will be defeated in the next general election unless he steps down.

He also made an issue out of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder scandal, which implicated Najib’s close confidant Abdul Razak Baginda.

Abdul Razak was charged with abetting the murder but was set free without his defence being called.

The Permatang Puah parliamentary constituency was held by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, but the Dewan Rakyat speaker had declared the seat vacant on April 1. A date for the by-election would be decided next week.

This followed the Pardons Board’s decision to reject Anwar’s appeal against his five-year prison sentence for sodomy.

However, Anwar’s family and lawyers dispute this, arguing that the Yang Dipertuan Agong himself - who chairs the Pardons Board - has yet to dispose of the case himself.

‘Now more opposition than the opposition’

Meanwhile, Quek said Mahathir is now “more opposition than the opposition” and because of this, grassroots members are recoiling away from Mahathir but would not speak up out of respect for him.

He reminded that all 13 BN parties have formally voiced their support for Najib as prime minister, and this is not something to be decided by Mahathir alone.

“Since the post of opposition leader is temporarily vacant, former prime minister Mahathir should volunteer to represent the opposition at the Permatang Puah by-election and run against the Umno candidate.

“Then, it can be proven whether the people support the prime minister’s administration,” he added.