Age, health against Mahathir, says Ahmad Zahid

BAGAN DATUK: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today the election on May 9 would be Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first and last general election on an opposition ticket because of the former prime minister's age and health.
The caretaker Deputy Prime Minister said at a press conference here that the 92-year-old Dr Mahathir could say anything he wanted to but "we in the BN will ensure that this will be the first and last time that he will contest on an opposition and PPBM ticket".
Dr Mahathir, who is contesting the Langkawi parliamentary seat in the election, said in Putrajaya yesterday that he would do anything to ensure that the government led by caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was toppled in the general election.
Ahmad Zahid, who is an UMNO vice-president also discharging the duties of the deputy president, said firm action would be taken against UMNO members who attended the opposition 'ceramah' (talks) and had criticised UMNO.
UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today that UMNO had sacked party veterans Tun Daim Zainuddin and Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, and had placed Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim under investigation over such indiscipline. — Bernama