Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has little faith in Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who replaced his son, Muhkriz Mahathir, as Kedah menteri besar a fortnight ago.

He said that Bashah will not succeed because he has a bad track record of failing to defend the state in the 2008 general election.

"You removed a person who is appreciated by the people and replaced with someone who has failed (before).

"We have never lost in Kedah before until these people (Bashah and his team) took over. And now these people are (coming) back to run the state.

"Can we trust him to do a good job?" he asked.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the preview of the new Proton Perdana in Shah Alam today.

Asked whether he believes Bashah could do a better job, he said:

“I don't think so because in the past he didn’t contribute towards the success of Kedah. When Mahdzir Khalid was the MB, they all lost.

"This new person (Bashah) should be replaced."

Mahdzir was Kedah menteri besar from 2005 to 2008 before he lost the state to PAS. He was appointed as Kedah Umno deputy chief after Bashah took over the state committee

In early February, Mukhriz resigned his post after failing to secure the support of the majority of the assemblypersons. The no-confidence move was initiated by Bashah.

The fall of Muhkriz is seen as the biggest blow to Mahathir’s campaign to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.