Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the main star at Pakatan Harapan gatherings, is temporarily out of the ceramah circuit.

Mahathir had failed to show up at two ceramahs that would have required long distance travel from his home in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Explaining Mahathir's absence at a fundraiser dinner in Kluang, Johor tonight, DAP's Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said Mahathir had been suffering from flu for a week now.

"He's been down with the flu for a week so they decided that it was best he did not come.

"He was also absent from the ceramah in Temerloh last night," Liew told Malaysiakini.

The 138-table dinner in Kluang tonight had sold tickets at RM70 per person.

It was a highly anticipated gathering as the dinner would have seen former DAP firebrand Hew Kuan Yau and Mahathir sharing the same stage - both of whom have been accused of being an "ultra" advocate for their respective communities.

An apologetic Mengkibol state assemblyperson Tan Hong Ping took to the stage to announce Mahathir's absence tonight to the disappointed crowd.arrangement (for him to come)," he said.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir was present in his father's place.

A pre-recorded video message by Mahathir was also aired during the dinner, in which he urged those present to support Harapan's fundraising exercise.

"We organised the event to collect some fund because we faced restrictions and difficulty in getting funds.

"These are the people's parties as we fight for the people," he said.

Kit Siang attends with plaster on head

Also present at the dinner was DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who surprised attendees when he appeared with a plaster on his head.

Lim told journalists that he had suffered a fall while in Petaling Jaya on Thursday.

Despite the injury, Lim, who is 76 years old, appeared in high spirits as he signed autographs on DAP merchandise.

Last night, Mahathir was also absent from Bersatu's ceramah in Temerloh, Pahang despite banners stating that he would turn up.

The parliamentary constituency of Temerloh is presently held by PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan.

However, Mahathir has still made public appearances closer to home.

Yesterday morning, Mahathir had joined other Pakatan Harapan leaders to submit the party's registration to the Registrar of Societies in Putrajaya.

Subsequently, he participated a rally after Friday prayers at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to protest Israel's restriction on Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The 92-year-old had been on a ceramah blitz since he was announced as Harapan's new chairperson on July 14.

Despite his advanced age, the nonagenarian's oratory skills had helped attract crowds to Harapan's ceramahs and also re-energised the coalition, which had been struggling after the demise of its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat.