Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has refuted claims that he is the source of the Malays splitting up, as a result of his decision to sack his deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Mahathir was quoted by Sinar Harian and also Utusan Malaysia as saying that Malays had been split since the Malayan Union days, citing Umno founder Onn Jaafar leaving the party and causing a split.

tengku razaleigh speech 110310 02 Similarly with former finance minister, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (right) who left Umno to form Semangat 46, he said.

"The Malays have been split for a long time and not as a result of my action in sacking Anwar in 1998.

"Hence, to blame my action of removing Anwar as the source of Malays splitting was certainly incorrect.

"He (Anwar) has questionable character and he is not PM material," said Mahathir.

“We cannot accept a person who has low morals to be a leader as we will be ashamed of it."

Mahathir was answering questions posed to him at a seminar in Terengganu.

The former premier added that the Umno supreme council decision was also unanimous and it was not solely his decision to dismiss Anwar.

He said the people do not see Anwar’s moral problems as he is a good orator, and he used it with great effect to deviate the rakyat’s thinking.

Mahathir said Anwar, instead of faulting himself, has put the blame on others.