Parti Amanah Negara has slammed Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for describing former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah as “liability” and “rubbish”.

Tengku Adnan was then responding to Saifuddin’s entry into PKR on Thursday.

Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa asked how can Saifuddin be a liability or rubbish when he was appointed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to lead the Global Movement for Moderates.

“Najib chose him to be the chief executive officer of an important vehicle to promote moderation locally and globally,” Mujahid ( photo ) told Malaysiakini , from Doha.

“Either Tengku Adnan is rubbish or the whole idea of moderation is rubbish, perhaps that is why Saifuddin had to leave,” Mujahid added.

He was responding to Tengku Adnan, who also said that PKR had committed a mistake by taking in Saifuddin.

Tengku Adnan was quoted in media as saying that PKR can have Saifuddin as he is “rubbish”, and that the people also do not want him as he had lost his Temerloh seat in the 2013 national polls.

Amanah not slighted Saifuddin chose PKR

Meanwhile, Mujahid said Amanah does not feel slighted that Saifuddin had chosen PKR over his party, a PAS splinter group, which was launched on Sept 16.

He said Amanah welcomes Saifuddin whole-heartedly into the new opposition pact, Pakatan Harapan.

Mujahid said it is more important that Saifuddin has “progressive views and was passionate” about bringing change to Malaysia.

“His departure from Umno signifies that the party can no longer accept new political ideas.

“We now look forward to Saifuddin sharing his ideas and experiences with us, and along with DAP and PKR, we will prepare for the coming 14th national polls,” he said.