Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today is unconvinced that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has a reason to exist.

The Umno splinter party is formed by a pro tem committee consisting of, among others, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

Najib said differences in opinions can be discussed in the Umno family, instead of forming another party to attack Umno, because "Umno is a sacred party" (parti keramat).

Najib also criticised the trio for working with DAP and other opposition members to topple him.

"Muhyuddin used to condemn DAP as 'totok cauvinis" (super chauvinist) but now he sits with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang," Najib said.

"Where are your principles? In politics, you cannot let your moustache touch the ground. What does this mean? It means (to protect) your dignity and self-worth.

"Even if you only have a plate of food left, you must defend your dignity," he added.

Najib said Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu described Mahathir as ketua perompak and still Mahathir sat next to him.

"Where is his pride?" Najib asked.

Funds for mosques to cool division chiefs' hearts

He said this at the event to officiate at the Tasek Gelugor delegates' annual meeting today. This is Najib's inaugural visit to Tasek Gelugor as PM.

Najib said BN or Umno may not be in power in Penang but the coalition and party are still in power at federal level.

"What does this mean? This is a party where its supporters come out in droves to meet their leaders.

"If I am no longer president of the party, what ubat penawar (healing potion) can I offer you?"

He was referring to Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya request for funds to refurbish two mosques in the area.

Najib approved the request, saying this would surely "cool" the division chiefs' hearts.

He then said such a move can only come with political power.

"Funding does not roll down to us or fly to us or rise from the tunnel or sea reclamation," he quipped.

"That is why, no matter how dissatisfied you are, don't disappoint the three million Umno members," he added.

Mahathir, who has mounted pressure on Najib to resign for more than a year now, has repeatedly accused Najib of buying support in Umno.

Lawan Tetap Lawan

However, Najib today said Mahathir was trying to topple him because the nonagenarian was "obsessed with control".

"I have only two options, to be a prime minister who refers to him and ask his agreement in everything or become a PM who decides based on the rakyat's needs.

"If I chose the second, he will attack me as what he had done to former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, " Najib said in Tasek Gelugor today.

Najib said Mahathir started attacking Abdullah when he formed his own political advisers known as the "fourth floor".

"How long can we go on like this?" he asked.

"The policies of the country cannot be determined by just one person, it should be determined by people and the party.

"So lawan tetap lawan!," ironically using the battle cry of nemesis PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who also served under Mahathir, was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998, and jailed for charges of sodomy and corruption.

He first used the battle cry Lawan Tetap Lawan in a fiery speech at the Umno headquarters lobby after he was sacked from the party.

He is now serving a five-year jail sentence for a second sodomy charge, which he maintains is politically-motivated and untrue.