PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil has slammed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for using the word ‘bangsat’ (bastard), saying that a person of his stature should not use the word in public.

Fahmi said Najib’s behaviour was very disappointing and urged him to behave more like a statesman in his choice of words.

“I think that is a very ‘un-prime ministerial’ word to use, but perhaps the situation is desperate, so he had to use words that… I don’t think any prime minister had used that word in public before.

“When I read about it in the media, I was shocked and was too ashamed to share it on Facebook,” he told reporters during a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Fahmi ( photo ) was responding to Najib’s speech in Perlis yesterday, where he used the word to describe the fate of the Malays if Umno no longer rules Malaysia.

"Some people say that the Malays will be defeated, beaten or fall flat on the ground but I choose the word 'bastardise' (terbangsat),” Najib told the Umno delegates present.

Umno has backing of Johor sultan

Meanwhile, Fahmi also chastised Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over his claims that Umno has the backing of the Johor sultan, and chided that Zahid appeared to be afflicted by the ‘foot-in-mouth’ disease.

He said the episode called into question the other claims that Zahid ( photo ) has been making as he toured the nation to officiate delegates’ meetings at various Umno divisions, such those regarding Najib’s RM2.6 billion that was supposedly a political donation.

For example, whereas Zahid had claimed to have met a representative of the donor, his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin appears to have been left in the dark.

Zahid, after an audience with the Sultan of Johor last Friday, told Umno delegates in Kota Tinggi that he believes that the state rule is counting on Umno to unite the Malays .

“The sultan reminded me that Umno was born in the Johor palace. His Royal Highness does not wish to meddle in politics but the sultan hopes the Malays can remain united.

“Although His Royal Highness did not say it, I am confident the sultan is counting on Umno to unite the Malays,” Zahid said.

On the following day, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim ( photo ) issued a warning against people who seek to advance their personal interests through the sultan, while stressing that he himself does not support any political party.

“Of late, many are seen to be trying to get close and be friends with His Majesty the Sultan of Johor, which leads to all kinds of speculations and perceptions.

“Don’t forget, I am the heir to the throne of Johor, and my voice will be the last one heard after everything reaches His Majesty,” Tunku Ismail said in a Facebook post.

Although the crown prince did not mention Zahid by name, the statement was seen as a rebuke to Zahid.