Kuala Lumpur  - Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday urged government lawmakers to leave the ruling coalition in order to force a leadership change.

Mahathir, who announced Monday that he quit the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), said the legislators should not join the opposition but look to rejoin the government once current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigns.

"This is one way to force Abdullah to resign. Then, all who had left can rejoin," Mahathir wrote in his blog Wednesday.

During the March 8 elections, the UMNO-led National Front coalition failed to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament and lost a total of five states to the opposition, recording its worst election performance since the country's independence more than 50 years ago.

Mahathir has blamed the losses on what he described as Abdullah's weak leadership, and has demanded that he step down. Abdullah, in return, has repeatedly maintained he would not quit.

Mahathir's call on Wednesday signals fears of a split within the party, which he has helmed for 22 years.

"If the National Front replaces Abdullah with someone courageous, then those who have left the National Front can resume their support so that the National Front can form the government again," he wrote.

The 83-year old former premier had selected Abdullah to be his successor in 2003, but less than a year later began publicly criticising the new leader.

Also Wednesday, Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of Malaysia's opposition, told reporters he wants bring a motion of no confidence against the ruling government by the middle of September.

During a press conference in Singapore, Anwar told reporters "we have the numbers, we can move," adding that his People's Justice Party needed just 30 members to gain a simple majority in parliament. (dpa)