The statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kedah on Saturday that UMNO is capable of remaining in power if there were no "unwanted people" in the party, is to get back at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang said the names that came to mind when Najib made the speech was the party's former president Dr Mahathir, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin.

Lim said Najib had chose Kedah to go on the offensive, making the speech before the Kedah Mentri Besar, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, when everybody at the convention and outside knew that heading the "jemuan-jemuan" (bad characters) slammed by Najib is none other than Mukriz’s father, Tun Mahathir.

"Is the longest-serving UMNO Prime Minister and President leading the list of 'bad characters not wanted in UMNO' by Najib?

"Is Najib setting the stage for the expulsion of Mahathir from UMNO, which will be another history for Mahathir – out of UMNO three times, twice expelled from UMNO and quitting UMNO once on his own," he said in a statement Sunday.

He also questioned Najib’s assurance in which he said he would not condone any wrongdoings and that wrongdoers will face action under the law.

Lim cited the cases of Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder, Teoh Beng Hock's death and the recent remark by UMNO Supreme Council Member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri on boycotting Chinese traders, which was deemed 'racist' by many.

"How can Najib explain such egregious condonation of wrongdoing and failure to ensure that wrongdoers face action under the law in these three instances?" he said.