As Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to administer jab after jab, a senior minister has offered a tip to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on how to deal with the harsh treatment.

According to Nazri Abdul Aziz, the remedy is to ignore the criticisms.

The culture and tourism minister called on Najib to focus on his responsibilities and duties as prime minister instead to achieve vision 2020.

As for Mahathir's latest snipe that Najib is nowhere near his father, second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, Nazri said this is always the case.

"Just like the English saying, 'We are just a chip off the old block'. This means we cannot be better than our fathers.

"This is nothing new and there is no reason for Najib to be upset over this," he told Malaysiakini .

"I take Mahathir's statement positively. Even I am not as good as my dad," he said.

In fact, Nazri said, the BN chairman should be proud as Mahathir has looked at Abdul Razak in that way.

Leaders cannot escape criticism

The culture and tourism minister pointed out that leaders in a democratic nation cannot escape criticism.

Asked about certain quarters including Mahathir who went to the extend of criticising and poking fun at Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor ( photo ), Nazri thinks that it is okay.

"Gone were the days in the 1950s where you can get angry. This is public demand.

"From the prime minister's view, this is uncalled for. Mahathir thinks this is okay.

"So let it be, I subscribe to democracy. As long as there is no physical harm, I think it's fine," he responded.

Mahathir had attacked Rosmah's lavish lifestyle and accused her of behaving like a prime minister.

In defending Rosmah, Najib chided Mahathir for echoing the opposition's "malicious rumours" about his wife and family.

When asked how he rates Najib's performance, Nazri said if the prime minister is allowed to do his job, he will be able to deliver.

"Up to now, the country's economy is still stable and I have not felt that the country is not safe," he remarked.