K KANGSAR POLLS Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak believes that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is only ‘using’ candidates who are contesting in the twin by-elections.

He said the country’s longest-serving premier had leanings towards the ‘politics of hatred’.

“He wants to use the candidates and the parties which are contesting to achieve his personal political goal – which is to remove the prime minister.

“But the rakyat won't be influenced because they are confident that the prime minister is sincere in giving the best services to the country – he (Najib) wants to ensure that Malaysia moves forward,” Salleh said at a press conference in Kuala Kangsar today.

Salleh was responding to Mahathir who will be in the royal town for the second time tomorrow, campaigning for Pakatan Harapan’s candidate in the by-election.

He said Mahathir had the right to do so since he was no longer an Umno member.

Salleh, however, noted how Mahathir did not talk about the candidates and instead had spoken on ‘recycled’ issues – 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation.

“And we have given explanations (on the issues) many times but he is still unsatisfied.

“In a democracy, he can't force us to accept his views; we, too, have different views. In the end, the rakyat will be the judge,” he said.

The minister, however, reminded the 91-year-old that as a former premier who once had BN behind him, he had then told everyone to support the government.

“But now he wants to ensure that the BN which he once led must be defeated even to the point of being in cahoots with Umno’s arch-rival just for his own political interests,” Salleh said.

After leaving Umno in March, Mahathir spearheaded the ‘Save Malaysia’ movement and launched the Citizens’ Declaration which, among others, calls for the removal of Najib as premier.

He will be in Kuala Kangsar tomorrow for further campaigning efforts after arriving at the royal town last Sunday and giving his endorsement to Amanah candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli.