PORT DICKSON, May 28 – Kubang Pasu UMNO division chief Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum regrets the statement by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates be defeated in the coming Parliamentary by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor and Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

“The issue between Mahathir and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was a personal one and it was unfair to involve the BN. He may have been influenced by certain parties not satisfied with the (UMNO) President,” Mohd Johari told a media conference after attending the passing out parade for newly recruited army personnel here Saturday.

Mohd Johari, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, urged Dr Mahathir to rethink his statement and the success he had achieved while in the BN. He said Mahathir must remember when he was the prime minister before and faced all kinds of issues, they all defend him and never stab him from behind even though he was criticised at all levels.

Johari, who was Mahathir’s former political secretary, hoped Mahathir would change and no longer issued statements that could jeopardised the unity among the people. Meanwhile, a total of 1,620 soldiers, including 29 female personnel successfully completed the basic army training being conducted from Nov 21 last year until today. Soldier Muhammad Safarudin Khairul Kamsani was named the overall best young soldier.