PETALING JAYA, Jan 28 — Several Umno leaders have criticised Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) vice-president Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir for his alleged remark that he was ashamed to be a Malaysian when abroad.

In a report by The Star Online, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin called the former Umno man “embarrassing”, saying Mukhriz should be more ashamed of himself for uttering such a remark.

“I think it is embarrassing. Even if we don’t agree with the government, we should not be ashamed to be a citizen. This itself is already shameful and he should not have said it publicly,” he was quoted as saying.

Umno Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim also suggested the ex-Kedah mentri besar to migrate to whichever country he was comfortable with than continue to damage the country further in a report by Utusan Malaysia.

He said it was fine for Mukhriz to be political, but not to the extent of losing the love for his country along the way.

“If you look at any country in the world, their citizens are proud of their own country. He can move to another country if he was so embarrassed.

“I am proud to be Malaysia even though life has its ups and downs. We should be building the country together, not destroy it with that kind of attitude,” he reportedly said.

Meanwhile, Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum was quoted by Bernama saying that Mukhriz’s action showed he was not qualified to be a leader and lacked patriotism.

He said Mukhriz does not appreciate the peace attained by previous leaders and generations but only cared about widen his political agenda.

“He does not know hardship because he lived in luxury, even his children goes overseas to study,” he alleged.

Mukhriz was reported to have said during a programme in Baling, Kedah on Friday that he was ashamed to identify himself as a Malaysian when abroad due to issues related to the country, and would claim he is a Brunei citizen instead.

On Friday, his aide Mohd Fisol Jaafar had however told news portal Malaysiakini that the report by Malay daily Sinar Harian had allegedly misquoted Mukhriz.