Muhammad, who is better known as Mat Taib, accused Azmin, the deputy president of PKR, of not giving his full attention to the Malays.
“How can he be held up as a great leader of the state? Just by providing a free bus service?” he said, in reference to the “Selangorku” free bus service sponsored by the Selangor government.
“What Azmin boasts of today is the fruit of Umno leaders’ efforts in the past. In the construction of a house, what Azmin has done is equivalent to installing a mirror,” he told his first news conference at his house since his return to Umno.
Muhammad left Umno to join PAS in 2011, then left the Islamist party to join PKR in 2013.
His return to Umno was announced in a much-hyped press conference held by party president and prime minister Najib Razak on Sept 17.
Mat Taib recalled that since the time he headed the state government, Selangor was already contributing one third of the national gross domestic product (GDP).
“Selangor, Pulau Pinang and Johor always make the largest contributions to the GDP, so don’t try to take personal credit for this fact,” he said, in referring to Azmin’s recent statement on Selangor’s economic success with 22.7% contribution to the national GDP.
Mat Taib also clarified that the Sept 17 media conference was held only to announce his return to Umno.
There was no intention to bring along several assemblymen from PKR and PAS to defect to Umno as speculated in some media, he said.
Referring to PPBM, the newest party in Pakatan Harapan formed by former Umno dissidents, Mat Taib described it as strong in desire but weak in spirit.
“PPBM can claim to be a Malay-based party, but its strength is only at the top level which has not touched its roots.
“If it wants to become dominant and victorious, it must build a strong machinery throughout the country, like Umno and PAS.
“Ask PPBM whether or not it has any machinery in Felda areas?
“What it has only exists in urban areas such as Shah Alam – only its drumming is loud,” he said.