DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has described tomorrow's Sungai Limau by-election as a test of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's continued influence.

Lim claimed that Mahathir was the personification of the "lunatic fringe" holding the moderate majority to ransom with lunatic lies and falsehood that undermines nation building and national unity.

As such, he said the results of the by-election will determine whether the people of Sungai Limau will reject such lies and falsehood including claims that DAP was out to set up a Christian state.

"The more interesting question is whether Mahathir and Mahathirism will suffer a third and probably final setback in six months after the 13th general election in the Sungai Limau by-election tomorrow.

"Which will be the case if PAS and Pakatan Rakyat candidate Mohd Azam Samat can secure the constituency, and even better, with an increased majority," he said in a statement today.

Money politics

Mahathir's son, Mukhriz, is overseeing the by-election as Kedah Menteri Besar.

Lim pointed out that Mahathirism had already suffered a blow before this when the former premier's attempt to racialise the Gelang Patah election campaign failed as voters backed the DAP.

Another blow, he said, was when Mahathir's son failed to win in the recently concluded Umno party election.

He further pointed out that despite Mahathir's complaints that his son lost was due to money politics, he appear to be less concerned that large amount of money has similarly been splashed for the by-election by BN.

"Mahathir today turned up on the Umno/BN campaign trail in Sungai Limau by-election and has adopted the stance that money politics in Umno party elections against his son Mukhriz was reprehensible...

"...but 'okay' for Umno and Mukhriz when practised in the Sungai Limau by-election," said Lim.