UMNO members who join new party are 'wolf in sheep's clothing' - Hamzah

An UMNO Supreme Council member has likened members who join the new party formed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as 'wolf in sheep's clothing.'

Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, who is also Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister described such UMNO members as greedy for power.

"We don't need wolf in sheep's clothing. They claimed to be fighting for the UMNO cause but look who is power crazy," he told reporters after the ministry's Aidilfitri celebration in Ijok today.

He said the formation of a new party by Dr Mahathir was an attempt to make his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz a leader after he was dropped as Kedah Menteri Besar and later sacked from UMNO.

Hamzah rejected claims that the decision to form the new party was made after achieving a consensus with the Opposition parties.

"They are not in consensus but only want power for individual interests. He (Dr Mahathir) quit after his son lost his post," he added.

On Thursday, Dr Mahathir said discussions to form a new political party were in progress and that the new party would align with the Opposition.