Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today clarified that he did once advise Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Umno.

In a video on his Facebook page today, Mahathir said he told Zahid, the current Umno president, that the party that exists today no longer holds on to the party's principles.

"I asked him to dissolve the party because Umno no longer exists - it only exists as an entity that is registered.

"Its principles and struggles no longer exist. Why should party members stay with a party that has left its struggle? That prioritises 'cash is king'?" said Mahathir.

Mahathir was responding to Zahid who told the MIC national annual delegates meeting recently about his meeting with the PM recently.

"The message is very loud and clear that we must jump ship and join Bersatu.

"We must dissolve Umno," said Zahid, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Zahid has admitted to meeting Mahathir twice after the May 9 general election.

The Umno president also claimed that his refusal to "jump ship" has resulted in him facing various criminal charges in court.

He said he will "never" jump ship nor dissolve Umno and BN while maintaining that he was innocent.

Talk of defections by Umno lawmakers to Bersatu has intensified after Bersatu accepted Jeli MP and Umno veteran Mustapa Mohamed two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, to a question on some Bersatu members claiming that they were being sidelined, Mahathir said that grouses from the grassroots will be addressed eventually.

"We are busy trying to revive the country and its finances. It will take time (to address internal woes).

"I cannot (handle every complaint) - this leader is doing that, that person was sidelined, this person should be sidelined or some leaders sacked all their committee members...

"If (these complainants) are only furthering their own interests, it is difficult for us to make time for them.

"Today, our job is to become the servants of the struggle for the Malays, Islam and the people of Malaysia," he said.