The former deputy prime minister said the party will not tolerate such behaviour among its members, even if the deceased had at one time mocked the party or any of its members.
“There should be no hatred when it comes to death, even though there are differences in religion and political leanings,” he said in a statement today.
Zahid also offered his condolences to the family of Balakong representative Ng Tien Chee.
While Zahid did not name any particular individual, it is believed he was referring to former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii, who courted controversy following an insensitive tweet over Ng’s death.
Razlan tweeted in Malay that a slanderer had died, which meant one less slanderer was around.
His remarks drew brickbats. PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said Malays were not brought up to insult accident victims.
“If this is the new Umno, then it strays from Malay culture,” Syed Saddiq, who is also youth and sports minister, said on Twitter.
The Muar MP was joined by other social media users who also reprimanded Razlan, reminding him that Islam did not condone such behaviour. One internet user also urged him to delete the tweet.
Razlan later told FMT that he had not meant to insult Ng and that he wished him to rest in peace.
He has since apologised and deleted the tweet.
Ng, 40, was involved in an accident on the Grand Saga Highway at 12.30am today. He died at the scene from serious head injuries.
Police said his car was involved in a crash with a truck.