Dr Mahathir's urging to reject BN candidates akin to 'father killing his son'

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed's statement urging the people to reject Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates at the two by-elections next month is akin to a father who is willing to kill his own son.

UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is also agriculture and agro-based industries minister, said the former prime minister, after purportedly not receiving the support of opposition leaders, was now willing to involve the people to reject BN.

"I see the opposition also does not want to make friends with him while the government from BN is disappointed in him.

"He (Dr Mahathir) is seen as being on his own now, to the extent of willing to have his son (BN), which he brought up, killed, by urging the people to do so," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby here today.

Dr Mahathir, in a function at Stadium Melawati, Selangor recently was reported to have urged the people to reject BN's candidates at the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

Meanwhile, Pulai UMNO division chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who is also deputy home minister, said Dr Mahathir had shown his insincerity.

"We used to respect him as a leader of the country for 22 years, now he is saying he wants BN to lose in the by-elections. That shows his insincerity," he said.