A BN comeback in Kedah can help offset possible losses of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak, says former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Last time we managed to win 14 out of 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah but somehow we lost 11 seats in 2008.

"We are capable of regaining them. If we lose a few parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak , Kedah can still help," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian today.

Mahathir said he was confident that BN will be able to win at least 11 of 15 the parliamentary seats in his home state of Kedah.

He added that BN would also be able to chalk up enough state seats to recapture Kedah.

However, he emphasised that this was only possible if all party supporters abide by the the decisions made by top leaders and do not sabotage.

'Every vote counts'

"Last time when I contested, I was also sabotaged, but our majority was large, even if we lost 1,000 votes, we can still win.

"But now, even a shortage of one vote could see us lose," he was quoted as saying at a gathering of Kedahan youths in Kuala Lumpur.

He said this applied to both parliamentary and state seats.

"The people must realise it is pointless to capture Kedah but lose the Dewan Rakyat (federal power).

"The state cannot be developed without the federal government's support," he was quoted as saying.

At present, BN controls 14 of 35 state seats and four of 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah.