Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz remains adamant that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had attempted to discredit the current administration.

He also denied Mahathir's allegation that the government was trying to suppress his criticism over the decision to scrap the half-bridge project.

The minister also contended that the approach taken by the former premier had gone beyond the line of criticism.

"Why send letters (criticising the decision) to all MPs and Umno divisions leaders? This shows that he wanted to go beyond criticising.

"That can be seen as an attempt to discredit the government and leadership," Nazri said when met yesterday.

The minister was asked to comment on the remarks made by the former premier during a recent exclusive interview with malaysiakini.

Mahathir had stressed that he was entitled to make criticisms and these must be answered, not brushed aside.

"What is it that Nazri (has) said on all (my) points? Tell me, on what points have I been wrong," the former premier had asked. He also denied that he was trying to undermine the current administration.

What blackout?

Mahathir, who ruled the nation for 22 years until passing the reigns to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2003, has also been complaining about the media not reporting his comments on the issue.

Responding, Nazri said there have been no attempts to silence Mahathir and all his queries were answered in a professional manner.

"I have replied in Parliament on questions of selling sand and sovereignty to Singapore with regards to the reason behind the decision.

"I don't see that he has been blacked-out, his news are in the papers, there was no instruction to black out (his views)," he said.

Nazri also argued that the former premier could not rebut the explanation on the half bridge issue by the Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.

Mahathir had described the explanation as 'rambling'.

As for his personal relationship with the former premier, Nazri - who served under Mahathir from 1995 to 2003 - said they have not kept in touch.

"In the past, I rarely saw him unless he called me. But I always had full respect for him," he added.