Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has faced brickbats over his suggestion that there would be a by-election in Langkawi.

The Langkawi parliamentary seat is presently being held by 93-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the prime minister and Bersatu chairperson.

Mahathir’s son, Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said Annuar's comment was inappropriate.

“It is inappropriate... it is not a good comment. Someone who is 93 years old could live for another 10 years to 100 or 103, or even 20 to 30 more years.

"Who knows? Even we do not know how long we will live. This is God's will," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.

Annuar, while campaigning in the Sungai Kandis by-election, had described the by-election as "a gift from God".

“We don’t know where the next one will be. Maybe it will be Langkawi or maybe it will be Bera. Let’s just hope it’s not in Ketereh,” said Annuar, who is also the Ketereh MP. Ismail Sabri Yaakob is the Bera MP.

Meanwhile, Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar of PKR also criticised Annuar for his comment.

"All I can say about Annuar is that he is rude," the water, land and natural resources minister was quoted as saying by the daily.

The Sungai Kandis by-election will see a three-way fight between BN's Lokman Noor Adam, PKR's Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent candidate K Murthy.

The by-election was triggered following the passing of PKR's Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei on July 2.

Shuhaimi won the seat in the May 9 general election after garnering 23,998 votes to BN's Kamaruzzaman Johari who received 11,518 votes. PAS' Mohd Yusof Abdullah received 7,574 votes while PRM's Hanafiah Husin got 76 votes.