Soon after the announcement was made that former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib returned to Umno, opposition leaders took to social media to ridicule Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Among them was current Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who tweeted “Saw Ka Po Ji … kah kah kah” which means to “collect old newspapers” in Cantonese dialect.

Commenting on this, Selangor Umno information chief Zein Isma Ismail claimed the situation in Pakatan Harapan was worse.

He said while Harapan likened Muhamad, who left Umno to join PAS and later PKR, to an “old newspaper,” the opposition coalition has appointed an “an older newspaper” as its chairperson.

Though he did not mention names, it was an obvious reference to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who described himself as Harapan's “top dog.”

Furthermore, Zein said the “older newspaper” was once despised by opposition parties such as DAP, PKR and PAS, but now the “older newspaper” has become their source of reference.

“To me, it is the opposition which collects 'old newspapers'. They accept all forms of 'old newspapers', especially those from Umno.

“They don't care if these 'old newspapers' disparaged and insulted them in the past as long as they can achieve their objective of toppling the BN and Umno government,” he told Umno Online.

He said those who leave Umno eventually return to its fold upon realising, like Muhammad, that opposition parties cannot match Umno in defending Islam, the Malay race and Malaysia.

According to Zein, Umno's doors are always open to those who wished to return.

“Let's say if Mohd Shafie Apdal or Muhyiddin Yassin want to return, God willing, I am confident Umno will be open towards a discussion. The issue of 'old newspapers' does not arise,” he added.

Muhyiddin was the former Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister whereas Shafie was a vice-president and cabinet minister.

In July 2015, Najib dropped Muhyiddin and Shafie from his cabinet following their critical views on 1MDB.

Muhyiddin is currently president of the Umno splinter group Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), of which Mahathir, who led Umno for more than two decades, is the chairperson.

On the other hand, Shafie is helming the Sabah-based opposition party Parti Warisan Sabah.