Kedah PAS has urged Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir to state his stand on his father's vicious criticisms of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as the state government needs to clear the air on the matter.

"On the issue (of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's criticisms), Kedah PAS feels the state government's leader must show concern for the crisis that is happening in the country, by stating his position on Mahathir's criticisms or Najib's wrongdoings.

"Therefore Kedah PAS urges the MB to state his official stand as the head of state at the coming state assembly on April 6," said PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar in a statement today.

"His official position or stand on Mahathir's criticisms of Najib is very important for the people in the state to understand the issues that are really taking place.

"If Mukhriz keeps quiet in this issue, then it means he does not oppose the criticisms against Najib, who is his chief," said Mahfuz.

Mahathir, who has been a constant critic of his successor, stepped up his attacks over the past week, particularly training his guns on the controversial murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

One of the officers convicted of the murder, Sirul Azhar Umar who has fled to Australia, claimed that he had been instructed to carry out the gruesome murder.

Najib's immediate reaction was to write off the claim as "utter rubbish" but Mahathir has demanded to know who had ordered the slaying of Altantuya.

Attacks not trivial matter

"The whole country is now witnessing the ferocity of Mahathir's open attacks against Najib.

"Of late, Mahathir's criticisms have become more severe, aggressive, and bold when touching on issues such as the killing of Altantuya, the purchase of Scorpene submarines, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, the wastage of public funds, the purchase of private jets, the extraordinary wealth of Najib's family, and the failure of his administration.

"Before this, Mahathir even blasted Najib's efforts to implement the goods and services tax (GST) that is now burdening the people.

"All these criticisms by Mahathir is not a trivial matter; it involves the people and the nation's interests," said Mahfuz.

He said these criticisms needed to be taken seriously by the country's leaders.