Another former political titan has returned after a long hiatus from the media radar to call on Dr Mahathir Mohamad to give Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak a chance.

Former MIC president S Samy Vellu told Malaysiakini that Najib has done a lot of good work and deserves to stay on as prime minister.

"I have a lot of respect for Mahathir, (but) I think he has to give an opportunity to Najib to prove himself.

"(Najib) has done a lot of good work... if we go and stop him now, I think the people will suffer," added the former works minister.

Samy was speaking on the sidelines of a forum on the 11th Malaysian Plan and the Indian community at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said Najib has done much for the Indian community too.

"Many of the Indian problems I have brought to him, he has taken immediate action, because he feels as a leader and prime minister, he is doing it for the citizens of Malaysia.

"Najib has got the capability to become the prime minister, to stay back, and do his style of politics, where Malaysians come together," he added.

Advise quietly, Dr M urged

Samy advised Mahathir, under whom he served for many years, to deal with his grouses in private.

"Mahathir earns a lot of respect from Najib. He (Mahathir) could have gone and called the PM and discussed what happened, and I'm sure Najib would have explained.

"That way would have been better than damaging (Umno). Whatever is being done is creating damage here and there for BN," Samy said.

Mahathir is on a warpath, which political observers see as a move to unseat Najib.

The former prime minister has publicly raised several concerns, such as  the debts of 1Malaysia Development Bhd, as reasons for Najib to quit office.

Najib has so far only offered a weak reply to these attacks, in a pre-recorded interview with TV3 last week.