The BN government should not have arrested and charged PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu because he has in fact done them a favour, said former prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking at a BN function in Kuala Selangor, Mahathir said that Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, had dealt Umno archrival PAS a great deal of damage.

"We want to take action, to exert pressure, to use the Internal Security Act... I say just let him be.

NONE "If there were 1,000 Mat Sabu in PAS, they will say things which would hurt people's feelings and these people will vote for (BN)," said Mahathir ( in white, flashing victory sign ).

He added that if he was still prime minister he would even go as far as paying PAS members to act like Mohamad by going around and "talking nonsense".

"Ex-servicemen are very angry at Mat Sabu that even the PAS supporters among them may vote for us... so why are we taking action against him (Mat Sabu)?" he asked.

Mahathir was speaking to about 400 people, including BN elected representatives from across the nation, at the event organised by the BN State Assembly Backbenchers Club.

Yesterday, Mat Sabu was charged with criminal defamation over comments made on the 1950 Bukit Kepong insurgency.

Related stories :

Mat Sabu gains international support

Stop the malicious prosecution of Mat Sabu