Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been urged to name the replacement for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak since the former premier claimed that many are qualified for the job.

"Mahathir should name the candidates so the rakyat can evaluate whether they fulfil the criteria and are qualified,” said PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar.

"Let it become a public debate before Umno and BN finalises Najib's replacement," he added in a statement today.

The Pokok Sena MP was responding to Mahathir’s remarks in an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian , published yesterday.

Mahathir in the interview had said "many people were qualified" to replace Najib ( right ).

 

However, he lamented that they were not from the pool in Umno as Umno would not let such talented individuals into the party.

 

"Umno doesn't let them in because everyone is worried about their own position.

 

"If more qualified people enter the party, they cannot hold on to their positions," he was quoted as saying.

 

In particular, Mahathir zoomed in on Selangor which he said had plenty of talented Malays but couldn't join Umno as they would be axed.

 

"That is why when we look for replacements, there supposedly aren't any.

 

"But Malays in Kuala Lumpur and from all over the country come to Selangor, and they are talented," he said.