Tough future for Bersatu in Johor after 'Bangsa Johor' issue - Hishammuddin

The UMNO vice-president, who is also Defence Minister, said it was a misjudgement by the former prime minister, but it was still up to him whether to apologise or not.

"If luck is not with him, the party will not be accepted even an inch here," he said after opening the Pengerang UMNO delegates meeting, here, today.

It was reported that the former prime minister among others when asked of his opinion on the concept (Bangsa Johor) during the 20th Perdana Discourse Series, recently had commented that unity among Malaysians could collapse if states practised parochialism.

On the same issue, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said, although Dr Mahathir was a former prime minister, it did not mean that he could be rude and touch on sensitive issues.

"We want to stress here that Johor UMNO had always has strong discipline and gave priority to the party more than anything, thus, do not ever touch on the issue of Bangsa Johor or Sultan of Johor.

"If he does not understand the real meaning of the concept, it is also not unreasonable for the Pengerang Umno division to say that we do not regret that Dr Mahathir left the party," she added.