"Never mind," was Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's response when asked if he was satisfied with Prime Minister Najib Razak's recent question and answer session on national television.

 

He was asked if the intense spat between Najib and his former boss and ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamed would affect the coming by-election at Permatang Pauh.

 

"We will answer it next time," he said, as a press conference today came to an end.

 

The question came up after Muhyiddin ( left ) said Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said had managed to unite the various factions in the constituency and they were united for the coming battle.

 

"In any election or by-election, there will be issues raised by the opposition or others, that we have to explain. This is part of the campaign.”

 

He added he could not say if the spat would affect the by-election but they would they would continue to explain the issue.

 

In the press conference earlier, Muhyiddin announced that Home Minister and Umno veep Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will help him in Permatang Pauh.

 

The other Umno veeps - Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein will help out in the Rompin by-election while Rural and Regional Minister Shafie Apdal will be on standby to help in both by-elections.

 

Last Thursday, Najib addressed issues related to the 1Malaysian Development Berhad, the murder of Altantuya Shariibuu and the fierce criticisms and attacks on him by Mahathir.

 

However, to many, the question and answer session was "tame" as Najib was seen as skirting issues.

 

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also said BN is aware that the coalition is the "underdog" in this campaign as Permatang Pauh is the stronghold of PKR.

 

However in politics, "nothing is impossible", Muhyiddin quipped.

 

"Our ambition is to win here so BN can continue with its development programmes. We will develop this area as I was told it has been long neglected. Problems faced by the rakyat here have to be addressed by BN," he stressed.

 

The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant when the Pardons Board rejected the appeal of Anwar Ibrahim's family to seek his release from prison.

 

He is serving a five-year jail sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison for a sodomy conviction.