Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim claimed today that he has received threats from certain quarters who are using Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's name.

According to a Bernama report, the state leader said he was told to "watch out" once Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad steps down in October.

"In a very distasteful manner, (they) have warned me to "watch out" after October. I would like to tell them that after October nothing will happen except the general election," he told reporters at his office.

He however did not indicate who these people were.

Shahidan said those behind the threat were eyeing political positions in Perlis and were using Mahathir's retirement as a platform to advance their interests.

He also expressed disappointment that Abdullah's name was being used by the group to associate his future as menteri besar.

The group was using the Deputy Prime Minister's name to gain political mileage, said Shahidan who is also Perlis Umno chief.

Controversial seminar

The menteri besar is no stranger to controversies and recently he landed in the limelight again when he announced that he was planing to hold a seminar entitled 'Mulut Orang Melayu' (Mouths of Malays).

According to him, the seminar aims to determine why the Malays were fond of accusing and slandering one another.

He said that of late, there had been a lot of backbiting and slander, an indication that there was a decline in moral and religious values among the Malays.

"I had even been accused of buying (parcels of) land at low prices and selling them for huge profits. This mindset must be corrected before they get to a point of no return," he said, adding that the culprits were both from the opposition and ruling parties.

He added that Mahathir would be invited to be a panelist at the seminar planned for November although he would have retired by then.

Last year, Mahathir announced that he would step down after chairing the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meet in Kuala Lumpur.

The 76-year-old premier who has been in office for the past 22 years, named his deputy Abdullah as his successor.