Civil society representatives who attended yesterday's meeting with Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned they would not support a divided opposition in the next general election, according to veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin.

"The NGO representatives and most politicians who attended the meeting were adamant that there should be a truce and dialogue among the opposition parties

"The NGOs warned they would not support the opposition in multi-cornered fights. They insisted on a one-to-one face-off with BN," Kadir wrote in his blog today.

Among the civil society figures who attended the meeting were Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, Hakam president Ambiga Sreenevasan and activist Hishamudin Rais.

Yesterday, Mahathir announced a ceasefire among those who supported the Save Malaysia movement.

He also said they would not attack PAS if they were not provoked.

This comes after PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man called for a truce among the opposition, asking them to train their guns on the "real enemy" - BN - instead.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan welcomed Mahathir's announcement yesterday that a new political party was in the works.

Rahman said BN intended to checkmate the new party and the opposition, every step of the way.

"If there is any regret to this whole episode, it is the fact that we have to fight an aging Tun (Mahathir) whose golden years should have been spent as a statesman.

"Seriously, there is no fun nor pleasure gained in fighting a nonagenarian.

“But since the gloves are off, BN will face anyone, anytime, anywhere for the future of this beloved country," Rahman said.