KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - After failing to get even a single Umno MP, including his own son, to walk out of the party with him, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad unabashedly appealed to MPs from Barisan Nasional component parties to do so -- with the same result: zero.

The MPs were wise to the fact that if they did so, they would destabilise the government and help the opposition achieve its cherished goal of forming the government.

But as Dr Mahathir walks alone, lurking in his shadow for an opportunity to pounce is his former deputy-turned-nemesis Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"I do intend to topple the government; we have the numbers," Anwar told reporters in Singapore. "I'm looking forward to early elections," he said, adding that he hoped these would take place before September.

"The moment we are sure we can contest, we move. If you have a one to two majority, the government will be too fragile ... You don't need a two-thirds majority."

He wanted a majority of five or six and saw a vote of no-confidence in Parliament as the best course of action.

Barisan MPs were obviously wiser. They said as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had led the coalition to victory, he should only be disposed of through a ballot -- not by asking BN MPs to become independents.

Opposition stalwarts also dismissed Dr Mahathir's call as wishful, gleefully pointing out that even his son, Datuk Mukhriz, was not taking his call seriously.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad (BN-Johor Baru) said Dr Mahathir's call, if answered would result in the opposition forming the government.

"If we do that, won't it mean that we are withdrawing support for the leader of the House? If there is any migration of BN MPs to become independent MPs, this means the House leader, who is also the prime minister, loses support.

"This will open the door for the opposition to have the opportunity to be the next PM. So, I find it strange that Dr Mahathir wants to change the government."

Shahrir added that by becoming independents, MPs would be betraying the voters who had voted them into the Dewan Rakyat on a BN ticket.

"Why should we be giving the opportunity for the opposition to form the government? This is about running the country and respecting the mandate given to the BN to govern."

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad said Dr Mahathir's call was extreme.

"I find his latest call to be melampau (too much). This is totally against what he had preached all this while to us -- loyalty to the party."

MIC information chief and Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan (BN-Tapah) asked: "What if the opposition somehow exploited this to their advantage and came to power?"

Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin (BN-Beaufort) said Dr Mahathir was dragging the BN into his personal fight with Abdullah.

Liberal Democratic Party chief and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk V.K. Liew said Abdullah is the legitimate prime minister and could only be ousted in an election.

"The same applies to all the MPs. If anyone is to heed the call by Tun Mahathir, it is only proper that they vacate their seats and leave the mandate to the people, although I do not see that happening."

Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan also pledged his party's support for Abdullah.

"I believe other BN component parties also have the same stand."

Even opposition MPs chided Dr Mahathir for urging Barisan MPs to quit the coalition.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) said Dr Mahathir had failed to convince his son to leave Umno. "So I don't think he has a major influence in this matter."

Mukhriz (BN-Jerlun) said he had made his stand clear.

"I am not sure if other BN MPs would listen to him (Dr Mahathir). I am sticking to BN because I have a responsibility towards my constituency.

"My statement that I will quit the party if the president does not resign was misunderstood. I said quitting the party is my last option if the party president refuses to resign.

"I am not pressured to quit the party although my father and brother have resigned."

Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Pasir Mas MP (Independent), said if BN members left, it would be good news for him but bad for the country because the government would collapse.