A veteran newsman has taken a swipe at Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar over his response to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism.

Ahiruddin Attan, who is popularly known as Rocky, said Noh’s reaction and self-denial served only to lend credence to the former premier’s assertions about Selangor Umno.

“Even if they weren't corrupt, Noh and gang are certainly bankrupt of ideas on how to properly deal with such a simple situation.

“Is it a wonder that BN did so badly in the last general election?” he asked in his blog today.

Ahiruddin was responding to Noh’s question as to when people started labeling Selangor Umno as corrupt and under whose watch this had happened, which was an obvious reference to Mahathir.

Noh’s retaliation came after Mahathir called on Selangor Umno to shed its reputation as being corrupt and urged its leaders to be moderate with regard to their lifestyle.

Instead of spewing such statements, Ahiruddin pointed out that the more sensible thing to do was for Noh and his men to seek an appointment with Mahathir to defend themselves.

“If Dr M has evidence on corruption in the party in Selangor, wouldn't Noh as the local chief want that information so he can deal with the disease?

“Why ask Dr M to go to the police? Why so defensive? The old man is your ex-president,” he said.

Furthermore, Ahiruddin, a former top editor with Malay Mail , said Mahathir’s criticism was not aimed at maiming Umno or Noh’s current boss, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“On the contrary, he was reflecting on what Najib had said just a few days earlier,” he said, referring to the prime minister’s call for Selangor Umno to buck up.

“The Tun (Mahathir), as a party elder, was merely saying what his party president has probably no heart to say,” he added.