He said this following the recent revelation by former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin that he would soon officially register a new party that he, along with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other ex-Umno leaders have worked on for months.

“Looking back in history, there has not been a single party formed by members who had exited Umno and managed to succeed,” The Sun Daily quoted him as saying.

“A party will not be able to flourish if it is formed with vengeance in mind.”

Badruddin said this when speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony to send off the first group of haj pilgrims at Tabung Haji Complex here today.

Commenting on the new party’s pledge to work with the Opposition in an attempt to defeat Barisan Nasional in the next general election, Badruddin said Muhyiddin had stabbed Umno in the back despite all the benefits the latter received while with the ruling party.

“Let him go,” he said, adding that Umno leaders should by right remain committed to the party even after losing their posts.

He also slammed those who had repeatedly accused Umno members of taking “dedak” (a term for chicken feed used to describe corrupt cash handouts) from party President and Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“Dedak is food for animals, fed to chickens, ducks and pigs. Does this means that Umno members are animals?” he asked, expressing hurt over the accusation which he said was an insult to those who had struggled for the party.