Former international trade and industries minister Rafidah Aziz (above) has fired back Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat for chiding party veterans who criticised the government.

"Don't talk so much, pay back every sen of the people's money!" Rafidah told Malaysiakini.

She cited a report by now-defunct online news portal The Malaysian Insight that the National Feedlot Corporation still owed the government more than RM248 million from the RM250 million soft loan it received.

Shahrizat's husband Mohamed Salleh Ismail is the company’s chairperson, with her children as its directors.

However, the MACC has cleared Shahrizat of any involvement in the awarding of a contract and a RM250 million loan to NFC.

Earlier today, at an event in Lembah Pantai, Shahrizat slammed Umno veterans for being critical of the party after stepping down from their ministerial positions and forgetting what they owed to BN.

She also took a veiled swipe at Rafidah.

"That woman, adoi, when she held her position she was powerful but now when she does not have any position, she makes all sorts of accusations,” Shahrizat had said.

Rafidah responded by saying that no one should think that the government and its leaders can't be criticised.

"(This is) especially when the issues have to do with scandals, such as the cow scandal, and all matters that have become common knowledge the world over.

"Don't tell me the 'ostrich syndrome' has now affected everyone linked to the PM that they are totally impervious to what the world is saying?

"It is my democratic right to speak and to speak the truth," she said.

Rafidah has been openly critical of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and Shahrizat in recent months and has declared support for Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz has claimed that Rafidah was bitter towards Shahrizat, after having lost the Wanita Umno chief post to the latter in 2009.