UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's characterisation of the party as "flies" in the unity government, reported The New Straits Times.
"We should show him respect — he is of a certain age — but I do not respect his opinion," Zahid said when asked about Dr Mahathir's comments at the MCA's Chinese New Year open house today.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir, the former prime minister and Umno president, said the Barisan Nasional lynchpin was "nothing more than flies" in the government.
He remarked while commenting on DAP's Nga Kor Ming's response to attacks by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh.
Last week, Nga, the Housing and Local Government Minister, said he would not engage in arguments with Akmal as "a lion doesn't argue with a fly" over the "ham" sandwich issue.
Dr Mahathir claimed Umno had "accepted" what Nga said, which was why he termed the party as "flies."
A number of top BN leaders were also at MCA's open house, including party president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon. - January 29, 2025