KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin was ticked off when an ex-Umno assemblyman belittled the party.
Calling Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Gagasan-Sindumin) as a betrayer, he told the state assembly sitting that he would only talk to people with dignity and integrity.
Despite the sitting being meant to debate on the 2024 state budget, the Lamag assemblyman said he wanted to respond to Dr Yusof's allegations on the Umno party.
"Sindumin is also from Umno, he had gained many profits from Umno but he is now a traitor. He jumped (over to other parties) not once or twice but many times.
"The majority of Sindumin's debate (against Umno) is akin to spitting into the sky but with the saliva raining into his own face.
"I am not making way (for Sindumin to debate), do not waste my time and I will not entertain people without charisma and integrity. If you have no dignity, no place for you.
"I am not 'ayam mati', you know what I am," he said.
Figuratively, "ayam mati" means one who is not easily defeated and refuses to be taken advantage of.
Earlier, Dr Yusof had said that there were many reasons for Sabah becoming a poor state now from one of the richest states in the 1960s and early 1970s.
He expressed his regret for being an "engineer" who brought Umno into Sabah with hope that the state would progress more like Selangor.
"However, during Umno/BN's tenure in Sabah, the capital eroded and lagged behind.
"At the same time, we need to learn why Umno, which ruled Malaysia for 60 years, toppled in the general election in 2018. This is the nature of Umno leaders misusing power, and these behaviours were brought to Sabah."
Dr Yusof also called the Sabah government to protest over the alleged Umno practice for appointing its party division chiefs as coordinators for GiatMARA, which is a government entity.