Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin has described an Umno leader's call for people to leave Malaysia if they did not like the BN government as “uncivilised”, stating even Pakatan Rakyat would not do the same to BN supporters who are now a minority.

"No matter how dissatisfied the people are with BN, nobody has ever denied the right of citizenship to the BN members even though they are the minority now.

"Pakatan has never asked BN members to leave the country," she said in a statement yesterday.

Even though BN retained the government in the last general election, it only managed to garner 47 percent of the popular vote to 51 percent obtained by the opposition.

Zuraida was referring to Kuantan Umno Wanita chief Zaiton Mat who was recently quoted by The Star as making the remark.

Zaiton was hitting out at government critics for complaining of rising cost of living as the prices of sugar, electricity, fuel and other essentials go up.

"Zaiton should also apologise for her statement for poor and suffering Malaysians to leave the country.

"Maybe Zaiton can afford the price hikes, but majority of Malaysians still cannot afford it," Zuraida said.

Zuraida also flayed Zaiton for being oblivious to the excesses of her own leaders while the man in the street face increasing pressure from rising costs.

"Umno are not the champion for Malays, they only champion their own pockets," she said.