Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to form a new party because Pakatan Harapan does not accept him and his son, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz, as members, alleged Umno supreme council member Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said this was proved when the Pakatan Harapan could not accept leaders like Mahathir as it knew his intention of joining the pact was to promote his son, Mukhriz.

According to him, this was proven in the opposition pact when Lim Kit Siang as the DAP adviser already has his son, Lim Guan Eng as DAP secretary-general and Penang chief minister, while PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has her daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar as PKR vice-president.

"I welcome him (Mahathir) establishing a new political party because this is a democratic practice in Parliament and I see he has listened to me to form a new party, instead of yelling in the streets by holding demonstrations, because they can go anywhere and it is not the way.

"Whichever party is being formed, BN will surely fight against it in the coming general election," he told a media conference after a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at Taman Puncak Bougainvillea near Padang Rengas today.

Mohamed Nazri, who is also tourism and culture minister, was commenting on Mahathir's statement on Thursday announcing that he would form a new party, which would be part of the opposition pact to face BN in the 14th general election.

"Right now they do not have a house (party) and like 'hantu raya' (ghosts) can only have a new house by forming a new party.

"With a legal political party and a request for police approval, any programme can be held in accordance to the regulations," he said.

He hoped the people respect Mahathir as a former prime minister, but not to follow his ways, which clearly showed "Malays had forgotten themselves".

- Bernama