Redzuan Yusof, a federal minister, said Wan Saiful was not among Bersatu’s founders and the latter’s membership had in fact been approved by the former prime minister.

“He should look at himself in the mirror before issuing statements that could anger Bersatu’s founders,” he said in a statement.

Redzuan said that personally, as one of the founding 12, he would advise Wan Saiful to better understand the party’s struggle.

“Please be careful when issuing statements that do not reflect the party’s struggle. United we stand, divided we fall,” he said, adding that everyone had their good and bad qualities.

Yesterday, Wan Saiful dismissed Mahathir’s claims that certain Bersatu leaders were willing to defect for the right price. He also rubbished Mahathir’s allegations that there were plans to offer him money to rejoin Bersatu.

Wan Saiful said these allegations were meant to attract people to Pejuang, the party Mahathir now leads.

Redzuan went on to say that there was nothing wrong in trying to bring back those who had been dismissed from the party.

He also said dissenting views were a norm in politics.

“Even when the party was dealing with internal conflict, the president never once said anything negative about his former colleagues and continued to rebuild the party,” he said, referring to Muhyiddin Yassin.