The bickering continues in the opposition, with Zaid Ibrahim firing salvos at PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Taking to Twitter, the former law minister saw red over the Pandan lawmaker's statement that Zaid has a checkered past.

"If Rafizi is the future of Malaysia, then we really have no future. Here is the man who is scathing against anyone he disagrees with," said Zaid, who is now a DAP member.

Yesterday, Rafizi had criticised Zaid over the latter's blog posting, where he chided opposition leaders for brandishing placards proclaiming Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister during the PKR congress.

Calling the act arrogant, Zaid claimed that it was also disrespectful to Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, who were also present.

Rafizi had called on Zaid to register his grouses against PKR in a diplomatic manner.

Prison time a pre-requisite now?

He also explained the reasons for Anwar, who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence, being a relevant political force in the nation.

Among others, Rafizi said that no other politician has been tested as much as Anwar, and pointed out that he has landed behind prison bars twice.

However, Zaid asked if he needed to go to prison in order to be a hero.

"Rafizi says I have checkered political career. How? Must I go to jail to be a hero.

"Just because I don't think Anwar can win the election for the opposition does not make my career useless," he added.

Mahathir, who is now chairperson of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) appeared to distance himself from Zaid's remarks concerning the placards and his stinging criticism of PKR.

"That is his opinion, not mine. I don't have anything to do with it," the former premier told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Selayang last night.

Zaid has repeatedly called on Harapan to name Mahathir as its prime minister candidate should the opposition bloc capture federal power in the next general election.

Mahathir, 92, was prime minister from 1981 to 2003.