Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has rubbished PAS’ proposal for Bersatu as well as PKR to join the third bloc with the Islamist party.

“The arithmetic is not right. If we just go with PAS, then they (DAP and Parti Amanah Negara) will be our opposition.

“Then we have to fight them in three-cornered fights, we will split the votes (and) Barisan Nasional will win,” said Mahathir in a press conference after the Save Malaysia round table discussion held in Bandar Utama today.

He was responding to PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah who said that the opposition would become even stronger if PKR and Bersatu were to join the third bloc.

Such a scenario, the Kelantan deputy menteri besar had reportedly said, would give the opposition a better chance of defeating BN in the 14th general elections.

To a question, Mahathir said Bersatu does not intend to dissolve should the party fail to remove Najib Abdul Razak as prime minister.

"If we close shop when we lose, then all is lost. We don't have the intention to dissolve Bersatu just because it loses. We will make more efforts to save the country," he said.

The event today, a roundtable discussion, was held in conduction with the 114th anniversary of Tunku Abdul Rahman's birthday.

Although the Tunku was once a harsh critic of Mahathir's administration, the latter said he had never restricted the Tunku's movement or stopped him from writing critical newspaper articles.

"He moved around the country and we paid for some of his fares. We did everything as he is a retired prime minister.

"But in the case of Najib presently, he took all the things that Parliament give me. He now prevents me from talking to his ministers in case his ministers listen to me.

"Of course I have been called a dictator, being called something is normal for politicians," he added.