Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, branded a "hatchet man" for the administration, denied that he has been tasked with attacking his former boss, ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At a press conference in the Parliament lobby today, Mohd Nazri said: "No, the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) did not call me or ask me to do this."

"This" was reference to Mohd Nazri's scathing remarks yesterday, in which he had told Mahathir to be a jantan (real man) and leave Umno, following the latter's severe criticism of the cabinet's recent handling of several issues.

He also said Mahathir was insincere in his love of the country and Umno, and that he was not speaking the truth.

At a function in Kuala Lumpur today, Mahathir brushed aside these remarks, calling Mohd Nazri a "hatchet man". He also claimed that attempts may be made to get people to dislike him in order to lead to his expulsion from Umno.

Reacting, Nazri retorted: "What else can he comment? When he can't rebut the substance, then (he chooses) to (take) a neutral line to say I am a hatchet man.

"(He should) deny what I said. I don't care whether I am a hatchet man or not. Just say Nazri didn't speak the truth. I want to hear that," the minister told reporters.

Nazri said he was loyal to Mahathir and has had much respect for the ex-premier, who influenced him to join politics as a law student in the United Kingdom.

"I heard him (Mahathir) spoke as the education minister then, as if he was a man with principles ... but I can't understand this man anymore," he said.

"I offered my resignation on his last day as prime minister as I couldn't bear seeing him leaving alone. (But) he rejected my resignation. Ask him."

Actions unpredictable

Mohd Nazri warned the public not to treat Mahathir's actions lightly, claiming that these are now unpredictable.

On the claim that there is a plan to get people to hate Mahathir, the minister said there is no attempt to demonise the ex-premier and that anything that has happened has been "self-inflicted".

"Why should we hate him?" he asked, adding that Mahathir should "cherish the good memories" that he used to have with the current leadership.

Nazri said he was unhappy with Mahathir describing cabinet ministers as "half-past-six", following the government's decision to scrap the half-bridge project with Singapore.

"My father spent a lot of money to send me to UK to study law, unlike him (Mahathir) who got a scholarship to do medicine. My father can't agree with him calling me 'half-past-six'."

Asked if he would meet with Mahathir, he said it was up to his ex-boss to contact him.

To a suggestion, Nazri said he is willing to have an open debate with Mahathir on his spat with the government.