Mahfuz Omar is an opposition leader with the mentality of a "katak di bawah tempurung" (frog under a coconut shell).

This is the retort from Pendang MP Othman Abdul to the PAS information chief’s remark last week that the government cared more for the panda than "janda" (widows or single mothers).

Describing it as a great embarrassment, the Umno leader took Mahfuz to task for not realising the symbolic value of the Pandas given to Malaysia by a superpower like China.

"It means that opposition leaders do not understand international diplomatic ties and that the pandas are a symbol of a close and special relationship (between Malaysia and China)," he told Umno Online .

Last week, Mahfuz ( right ) had criticised the government for spending some RM60 million on the well-being of the pandas as opposed to helping single mothers and widows.

Without mincing words, the PAS leader dismissed the deal as the most "tolol" (stupidest) inked by a "bahlol" government.

Commenting further, Othman said: "Opposition leaders attempt to provoke the people that the government does not provide assistance to single mothers and widows when the real figures of the assistance given is not mentioned or concealed."

He added that the opposition would manipulate and lie about issues in order to gain popularity.

Othman said Patakan Rakyat also deliberately politicised the panda issue but failed to mention the benefits secured with regard to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recent visit to China.

"The result from the six-day visit has borne fruit in terms of fostering better cooperation in all sectors which leads to mutual benefits in terms of economy, tourism, financial services and cultural issues

"To achieve a developed nation status, we must move forward and sow diplomatic efforts with major powers, including China, which has a huge market but the opposition mentality which fails to understand what is happening is a great embarrassment," he added.