Former Umno minister Shafie Apdal said that critics have the freedom to talk bad about the new party led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Let them say what they want to say, they have the freedom to say anything," he said after attending the Citizens' Declaration meeting chaired by Mahathir in Putrajaya today.

He will "wait and see" how far the new party can go, he added.

He said this when asked about the disparaging remarks made by his former colleagues on the new party formed by former Umno leaders.

Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz had claimed Mahathir and the former Umno leaders were liabilities to the opposition, and thus they were forced to form a new party.

“I wish them all the best and good luck. Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Nazri was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today.

Shafie, who was axed from his minister's post, decided to quit Umno after being slapped with a suspension.

Former Umno leaders who attended the meeting have mooted the formation of the new party, said Shafie.

"We have discussed it and most of the people welcomed its formation. What is important now is the unity among us," he said.

Meanwhile, PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar again reminded his party on the need to work with either BN or Pakatan Harapan and the new party.

"PAS has no choice but to choose to stand with either BN or the opposition movement and new party.

"If PAS were to contest alone, it means that it will have to face three-cornered fights. I am worried that it may even lose (power) in Kelantan," he said, adding that he had made the observation twice.

"Of course, I am not God to say this. I only said it after I have analysed (the situation)," he added.

"If you want to save Kelantan, you have to work with BN or the opposition," he said.

He also denied that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is a stubborn leader who refused to heed advice.

Mahfuz again brushed off talks that he may quit the party.