Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is very easily misled and influenced by those "who seem smart, are good looking and charismatic," claimed former information minister Zainudin Maidin.

"Dr Mahathir often falls for those who are charismatic, he is easily influenced... (This is what) he saw in (his former deputy) Anwar Ibrahim, Najib also seem smart and he (Najib) is good looking, so he did not choose Muhyiddin, he chose Najib instead," he told Malaysiakini , FMT and Berita Daily in a joint interview.