Dr Mahathir Mohamad is running down PAS because he is afraid of the party's influence, said the latter's central committee member.

Zuhdi Marzuki claimed the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson is a “political dictator” who wants the opposition to bow to his will, and PAS is the only party that purportedly threatens this plan.

"He has suceeded in burying (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim, he has tamed (DAP supremo) Lim Kit Siang, castrated (Amanah president) Mohamad Sabu.

"He is the true leader of the opposition bloc. The only one that can threaten his dictatorship is PAS which is the biggest political party after Umno," the PAS director of research said in a statement today.

He was responding to remarks Mahathir made in an interview with Singapore's The Sunday Times, in which the former premier said the opposition doesn't need PAS and can beat the party at the elections.

At an Amanah event last night, Mahathir also said Bersatu will decide to call off negotiations with PAS soon as they have waited long enough for a reply.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had previously said he would give PAS until this year to get on board with plans for the opposition to face BN in straight fights in the next election.

PAS is currently the odd man out among the opposition, with many predicting the next election may be dominated by three-cornered fights between BN, PAS and the Pakatan Harapan – Bersatu bloc.

PAS has refused to work with Harapan due to animosity with Amanah and DAP.