Similar to the fable about the Pessinus king Midas and his golden touch, Barisan Nasional is hoping that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be able do the same in Bukit Selambau.

mahathir and rais yatim pc 190309 04 The 83-year-old statesman, who witnessed the swearing-in of his protege Najib Abdul Razak as the country's sixth prime minister this morning, will arrive in the state constituency next Monday, a day before the crucial by-election.

Bukit Selambau is located in Mahathir's home state of Kedah, and the ruling coalition is banking on his popularity to turn the tide in its favour.

After the March 8 general election, Kedah fell into the hands of the opposition while Bukit Selambau witnessed independent candidate V Arumugam chalking an unexpected victory.

Arumugam, who joined PKR later, quit the post in February, paving the way for a by-election.

On April 7, BN's MIC candidate S Ganesan will be facing PKR greenhorn S Manikumar and a record number of 13 independent candidates.

Mahathir’s son Mukhriz said his father will attend a gathering at the Mara Institute in Sungai Petani at 5.30pm, 15 hours before the voters make a beeline for the ballot boxes.

Mukhriz, who is also the Jerlun MP, added that Mahathir’s presence is expected to once again rope in support for BN, especially from the fence sitters.

“He will meet the people and focus on the fence-sitters, and rally them to support BN,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

nizar jamaluddin ismail saffian bukit gantang by election Over the weekend, Mahathir is expected to campaign in Perak for the Bukit Gantang by-election which will also take place on April 7.

The battle for the parliamentary constituency is being touted as a referendum on BN's takeover of the state following the defections of several Pakatan Rakyat representatives.

Pakatan is fielding its ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin who will square off with BN’s Ismail Saffian and independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

Since ties soured with his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Mahathir has steered clear of campaigning, with the exception of taking to the ground in Jerlun last year to root for his son.

Mr and Mrs Mahathir to rejoin Umno

Meanwhile, Mukhriz said his parents will rejoin Umno on Monday and submit their forms to newly-minted Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin.

najib mahathir pak lah umno 2009 agm final day 280309 06 Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali quit the party last year in protest of Abdullah’s leadership.

On the statement by a supporter of Mahathir, Mej (Rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid, who is one of the 13 independent candidates in Bukit Selambau, that he will rejoin Umno if the former prime minister did so, Mukhriz said BN has decided that the seat be given to MIC.

Anuar, a former Merbok Umno division committee member, recently said if Mahathir rejoined Umno, he will also do so even if he won the seat as an independent candidate.

On Najib's appointment as prime minister, Mukhriz said he expected the new leader to bring political and economic stability.

"Najib has a good example to follow ... his father (the late Tun Abdul Razak) who became the prime minister at a time when the country was facing a political crisis," he said.