Bersatu's Port Dickson division has warned PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and Kapar MP Abdullah Sani Abdullah Hamid not to hit the campaign trail for the upcoming by-election.

Division coordinator Ramli Awang said the party cannot guarantee the support of its 2,000 members in Port Dickson for Anwar Ibrahim if Rafizi and Abdullah refuse to heed the warning.

“We welcome Anwar contesting in the by-election, but there is no need for Razfizi and Abdullah to join the campaign.

“We have no issues with PKR but are slighted with these two who often accuse (Prime Minister and Bersatu chairperson) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Daim Zainuddin of wanting to topple Anwar.

“Therefore, their presence would worsen the situation as many Bersatu members have been hurt by the allegations against our leaders,” he was quoted in media reports.

Previously, Abdullah, who is aligned to Rafizi, had accused Mahathir and Daim of collaborating with PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to prevent Anwar from becoming the next prime minister.

Rafizi is challenging Azmin for the party's No.2 post.

Abdullah later apologised and retracted his allegation after being rebuked by Anwar, who claimed that his relationship with Mahathir was not strained.

Mahathir and Azmin had also dismissed the allegation.

On Wednesday, PKR's Danyal Balagopal Abdullah announced that he would vacate the Port Dickson seat to allow Anwar to contest in the by-election and return to Parliament.