KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - FORMER Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad must shoulder some of the blame for Barisan Nasional's worst-ever performance in the recent general election, says former Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin.

Dr Mahathir's various accusations swayed the people to vote against Barisan, he said.

'Laying all blame on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for Barisan's losses is not right because it is clear that Dr Mahathir is full of anger and uncontrolled vengeance,' said Mr Zainuddin.

'Maybe he was not aware or maybe he purposely did not want to be aware that his credibility as a former leader is still strong and that his influence on the grassroots, both Malay and non-Malays, is significant.'

'His credibility influenced people into believing what he said and he also lent this credibility to bloggers and websites,' he said here on Sunday.

Mr Zainuddin said there were three statements in particular that affected Umno's and Malaysians' confidence in the leadership in the run-up to the elections.

'The first was when he said he regretted appointing Mr Abdullah as the Prime Minister.'

'This was then followed up by Dr Mahathir saying that Mr Abdullah was only meant to be a one-term Prime Minister and that more opposition was needed in Parliament.'

Mr Zainuddin added that the third and most damning statement that was widely accepted by all segments of society was about the role Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and his advisers played in the country's politics and economy.

'This even caused Gerakan adviser Lim Keng Yaik to ask Mr Abdullah to get rid of his advisers,' he said.

Mr Zainuddin said he was merely telling the truth when he said that Dr Mahathir could not deny he had played a role in Barisan's dismal poll results.

'This is not to say that other factors do not count, but Dr Mahathir cannot absolve himself from this.

'There have been many opinions in the aftermath of the election but Dr Mahathir being a factor was not really mentioned, ' he added. -- The Star/ANN.