PMTG PAUH Muhyiddin Yassin has downplayed the absence of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's posters during the campaign for the Permatang Pauh by-election in Penang.

What is more important, according to him, is that Umno candidate Suhaimi Sabudin’s posters are displayed prominently in the constituency.

"It doesn't matter whose face is displayed on the posters. What's important is the candidate's picture.

"The prime minister is not contesting, even I am not contesting, my face is not on the posters," the deputy prime minister told reporters.

Muhyiddin was responding to PKR parliamentarian Sim Tze Tzin, who noted that t his by-election was unlike other election campaigns where Najib would be prominently featured in posters and banners with the BN candidate.

Sim questioned whether this had anything to do with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's intense criticism of Najib on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue.

The Bayan Baru MP had asked whether Umno had brought its internal bickering to Permatang Pauh.

Meanwhile, when asked whether Mahathir’s attacks on Najib were influencing the campaign in Permatang Pauh, Muhyiddin said they should not focus on the matter.

“We should not give more focus on that. What’s important is the issues which affect the people here,” he said, adding that it was better to focus on questions which needed explanation.

“What I want to know is the voters here. If the problem (Mahathir’s attacks) does not arise, why should we focus on it?” he asked.

In a related development, Umno portal MYKMU.net claimed that vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was more courageous in deflecting Mahathir’s criticism against Najib compared to Muhyiddin.

"It is puzzling why Muhyiddin is so cautious in making statements about this issue when there is no need to be so.

"It is not proper if the prime minister tries his best to deflect the criticism because it involves Umno and BN whereas Muhyiddin as the deputy is more prone to avoiding the issue," it said.