An Umno supreme council member told party members not to be nostalgic about their former president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the ex-premier is now gunning to sink Umno's boat, and should be torpedoed out of the water before he can do so, reports national news agency Bernama.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it could not be denied that Dr Mahathir had brought much development to the country, but Umno members should realise that he was no longer in the party.

"He is in another boat and he is not going to lift a finger to help our boat.

"Before he punctures our boat, it is better that we sink his," he said when opening the Kuantan Umno division delegates meeting today.

Also present was Kuantan Umno division chief Wan Adnan Wan Mamat.

Ismail Sabri reportedly said it was important for Umno members to strengthen the party and continue to work for the people, religion and country.

Mahathir was one of Umno's strongest proponents since his younger 'ultra' days all the way to his 22-year reign as party president and prime minister.

However, after stepping down as premier, Mahathir came back into the political arena to berate Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his former deputy-turned-successor.

After successfully leading the campaign to oust Abdullah, Mahathir was happy for a while, until he found fault yet again with present Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Presently Mahathir is spearheading newly-registered Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, a vehicle he hopes to use in a grand coalition to include opposition parties and Umno rebels, in order to take down Najib.