Puad said that under Zahid, BN wrested Tanjung Piai (Johor), Melaka and Johor from the opposition and retained the government in Pahang and Perak.

“In fact, BN won many by-elections. So, the claim that Zahid had tarnished BN’s image or is to blame for MCA winning only two parliamentary seats in Malay-majority areas is wrong,” he said in a Facebook post.

Puad said MCA only had itself to blame when it was thrashed in the 14th and 15th general elections.

He said the party had disgraced itself, which was why it “should not talk too much”.

“Leaders, including Ti, only blame Umno for BN’s decline but fail to acknowledge their own shortcomings,” he said, referring to former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker.

“MCA continues to underperform from one general election to another.”

Earlier today, Ti accused Zahid, who is the BN chairman, of ingratitude following the Umno president’s remark that some of MCA’s leaders wanted to leave the coalition because they did not receive “toys”.

The former deputy unity minister also said that BN’s reputation took a further hit, following its crushing defeat in 2018, after a slew of corruption charges against Umno leaders, including Zahid himself, and his subsequent conditional discharge.

In a separate Facebook post this morning, Ti also said BN would only be respected once again if it did not act as a shield for Zahid and kowtow to DAP’s agenda.

DAP and Umno are allies in the unity government.

Puad said DAP should not be made the scapegoat and be blamed for MCA’s troubles.

He said Umno reclaimed Nenggiri, a Malay-majority area, from PAS at the by-election last year.

“What has that got to do with DAP? (MCA) should revitalise itself, just as Umno has done,” he said.