Ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today rebutted criticisms leveled against him for speaking out against his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said that there was a concerted effort by Abdullah's "henchmen" to blackout any disapproval against the premier, turning him into almost a saint.

The combative ex-premier said he has to continue to criticise Abdullah because no one else is able to do so - whether they are government top leaders or anyone from royalties to beggars.

He was responding to a fresh round of attacks on him by government ministers and party leader following his own renewed criticism on Abdullah after their meeting on Sunday.

He said the media had played up his criticisms as despicable and reprehensible.

The veteran leader said that Muslims should know that even the Imam can be corrected by his congregation if he is wrong.

"Saidina Abu Bakar, Islam's first Caliph, had asked to be corrected if he does something wrong, not by foreigners but by the Muslims themselves.

"But the current prime minister cannot at all be commented upon, criticised or advised. He is almost a saint who is free from any human weaknesses or wrongs," said Mahathir in a two-page statement issued this morning.

'Condemnations and insults'

He claimed no one dared to comment or criticise his hand-picked successor Abdullah.

"In a situation where no can criticise the prime minister, I have to voice my criticisms on matters that do not concern my personal being, but only those that concern the interest of the religion, race and country.

"Because of this I am abused by the prime minister's henchmen including component party leaders, the mainstream media that is controlled by Kali and Brendan and all other government apparatus," the 82-year-old firebrand added.

He was referring to New Straits Times adviser Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan and Group Editor Brendan Pereira.

Mahathir - who is not scheduled to have any press conference today - released the statement through websites Malaysia Today and Mykmu.Net this morning.

Signing off as a 'Malaysian citizen and commoner' in the statement, Mahathir said as all avenue for criticising the government has been shut, he was forced to release the statement so that it was "not spun by anyone".

Mahathir's response today is clearly a rebuttal to Abdullah's comments yesterday. The prime minister broke his silence since the Sunday meeting, saying that he was upset with Mahathir's criticisms, calling them " doses of venom ".

Abdullah said that he was getting prepared to answer all the issues raised by Mahathir at the meeting and was surprised by Mahathir's renewed attacks immediately after the meeting.

In a sarcastic tone, Mahathir today said: "My meeting with him should be kept secret from the rakyat. And because we have met, I can no longer criticise whatever is done by the prime minister."

"Because of my statement that I would continue criticising if something that is not good for the religion, race and country is done by the prime minister, all sorts of condemnations and insults are thrown by these hatchet men and the mainstream media towards me," he added.

Questions not answered

The elder statesman reiterated that Abdullah has not answered his questions and issues.

"What is being questioned is my right to comment and criticise. Attempts are made to disparage me so badly that I am made out to be of unsound mind.

"Repeatedly, allegations were made that the administration during my time was worse," he said.

He even claimed pre-paid telephones are now required to be registered so that anyone transmiting the short messaging services (SMS) will be known by the government and action can be taken, while Internet websites will be electronically bugged.

Mahathir added that Umno members are prevented from attending his functions while anyone who attempts to hold any function that may involve criticising Abdullah will be harassed and threatened by the police and government leader.

"Actions that are taken or threatened to be taken include sacking, transfer to remote areas like in Sabah, retraction or cancellation of contracts, harassment by the banks, call-up by the police, the Anti-Corruption Agency and other government enforcement agencies, detained and interrogated repeatedly," Mahathir claimed.

In the past six months, the relationship between the two leaders suffered a massive fall out following Mahathir's accusations of economic mismanagement, corruption and nepotism under Abdullah's administration.

He has expressed discontentment over various issues like the scrapping of a proposed bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore and the issuance of Approved Permits (APs) for imported vehicles.

Read Mahathir's statement here.