Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to provide a detailed explanation regarding the issues raised by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.  

This comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin expressed support for the former prime minister.

Shafie said the party and government should provide the answers, instead of letting outsiders explain the matter to Mahathir.

"He (Mahathir) has asked numerous questions that require explanation, so it is important for us to explain in detail. I believe that this is not because of the crooked bridge.

"This is important, because the explanation will not only convince Mahathir but also the people.

"While we wait for the auditor-general and Public Accounts Committee (to investigate 1Malaysia Development Bhd), it is important that those with information, for example the Finance Ministry, to give a detailed explanation on the issue," he is quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia today.

Shafie also said that everyone knows Mahathir's character.

"This is not only during the era of Najib but also before that (during the time of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, right )," he added.

Mahathir has raised numerous questions, such as the 1MDB quagmire, the motive behind the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, businessman Jho Low, the government's newest private jet and Najib's family wealth.

This prompted Najib, who is also finance minister, to address some of the issues via a pre-recorded interview on TV3.

However, Mahathir is not convinced, while detractors also noted that the prime minister’s answers did not address the issues raised.

Najib also indicated that his refusal to build the crooked bridge to replace the Johor Causeway was the cause of the rift, but Mahathir denied this.