Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said Mukhriz’s “lie” was just part of his “dirty tactics” to rally support for his new political party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), the New Straits Time reported today.

On Thursday, Mukhriz said Khairy had planned to resign from his post as the youth and sports minister last year as he no longer had faith in Najib following the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.

Mukhriz further alleged that Khairy only cancelled his plans after being persuaded by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Shaiful however said Mukhriz had no right to make such allegations as he was no longer the Kedah menteri besar or even an Umno member.

If his claims are true, Shaiful said, then he should have spoken about it when he was still in the party.

“It only proves that Mukhriz has no principles,” the English daily quoted Shaiful as saying.

Shaiful also said Mukhriz was being childish, acting out of vengeance against Khairy who during the Umno general assembly last week, attacked Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Mukhriz is Mahathir’s son.

“I think Mukhriz is trying to confuse his own supporters by creating the impression that Umno is no longer strong, (but) it is actually the other way around.

“Umno is now much stronger, because we have eliminated those who cannot work as a team in the party,” said Shaiful.

Rumours of a rift within Umno have been circulating, with the latest being a hoax letter allegedly prepared by Zahid calling for Najib’s resignation.

In the letter, Zahid was named as the prime minister’s replacement, with Khairy named as Zahid’s deputy.

Najib however dismissed the rumours, claiming they were part of the opposition’s ploy to pit him against Zahid.