Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman defended Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying the former prime minister should not be blamed for the political fiasco last week, which led to Pakatan Harapan losing federal power.

In a talk with about 200 members in Alor Setar, Kedah, Syed Saddiq said traitors within Bersatu used Mahathir's name to lure MPs to Sheraton Hotel on Feb 23, where Umno and PAS members were present to form a new alliance to topple the sitting government.