KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taken a dig at Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, saying it is time that the PAS spiritual adviser steps down.

"It's about time he goes. Like me also lah, when you become old, you become nanyuk (senile)," he told reporters after the opening of the National Asset and Facility Management Convention 2009 yesterday.

"I am of the opinion that leaders should not hold on to their positions for too long as they would become kolot (out-of-date)."

"Before people say when is this old man going to go, you should go. Then only people will remember you. If you wait for people to kick you out then people will say nasty things about you," he said.

Dr Mahathir was commenting on the crisis in PAS where Nik Aziz had called for a special muktamar to get rid of problematic leaders who had supported the unity government proposed by Umno.

Asked to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's remark that the latest development in PAS showed that the party was divided on cooperating with Umno, Dr Mahathir said:

"They should be willing to give and take. We do not see that PAS is willing to give. Similarly, Umno also has to give to PAS. It's not compatible. They can still try."

Asked to comment on Budget 2010, Dr Mahathir said: "My feeling is that a lot of people make comments before studying the Budget very carefully. Based on my experience, first day comments are always very good. Then when people began to study the hidden agenda, they became unhappy. I'm still trying to find out the hidden agenda."