Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants the people to convince Pekan constituents to abstain from voting for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the next general election.

This, he said, was because what most people want now was for BN to win in the next election but for Najib to lose.

"Because of this, we should all go to Pekan and ask them to please not vote for that person.

"If we can do that, that would be good," he said.

While Mahathir did not mention Najib's name explicitly the latter is indeed the current parliamentarian for Pekan.

Elaborating further, Mahathir pointed out how should there be a vote of no confidence against Najib, the BN government would not fall.

"And maybe (former deputy prime minister) Muhyiddin Yassin ( photo ) will become the prime minister," he said to applause from the crowd in the event held in Pasir Gudang today.

Mahathir in his speech also watered down current deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's hopes of becoming the next prime minister.

"He thinks since he's the deputy prime minister, he will become the prime minister. I want to tell him; you are Najib's choice.

"But Umno would not necessarily choose you. If Najib falls, Umno will choose the next prime minister," he said.

Mukhriz facing sack?

Meanwhile, Mahathir was also asked on rumours that his son, Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, would be sacked from his post.

"Regarding my son, well, I was sacked once, too. But because (former prime minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman sacked me (from the party), I could become the prime minister," he joked.

The country's longest serving premier added that in politics, it was normal for politicians to have to face all kinds of challenges.

"If they want to sack, go ahead. But the effects of such an action are usually not expected by those who do the sacking.

"If you look at the country's history, there is a possibility of the one being sacked to become more popular," he said.

Commenting on rumours that Muhyiddin, too, would be sacked from Umno, he said: "What right do they have to do so?

"But because they have been paid... Then they will just sack him," said Mahathir.