The prime minister's press secretary told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that none of the 98 articles tendered as evidence showed that Mukhriz Mahathir has "80 percent support" of Umno members.

Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said this during cross-examination by the plaintiff's lawyer, Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who referred to the former's statement dated April 26, 2016.

The statement read: "Tun Mahathir Mohamad should retire gracefully and allow his son to stand on his own feet, especially as Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir now claims to have 80 percent support within Umno... trying to unseat a serving PM just to benefit your son is a step too far for Umno members."

The admission was made when Haniff asked Tengku Sariffuddin if the statement was meant to give the impression that Mukhriz, the plaintiff, was not politically qualified and depended on his father...