An Umno Youth leader today said that the party will not self destruct despite DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang's prediction of its future.

"Umno will not be destroyed, as what is hoped for by DAP chauvinists.

"In fact, I can say with confidence that Umno is now stronger and more united," Johor Umno Youth chief Mohd Hairi Mad Shah (photo, above) said.

Mohd Hairi claimed that unlike DAP's reputation for stoking racial animosity, Umno remained known for the party's contributions since Independence and its role to unite all parties under BN.

"If Lim Kit Siang does not believe this, he can ask Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament.

"Then we can see whether Umno or DAP will be destroyed," he said,

Mohd Hairi further claimed that the people are tired of DAP's alleged tendency to play up racial sentiments.

He said Umno's membership has grown and public support was also boosted following its cooperation with PAS, despite Lim's claim of dwindling support for the party.

"Just to inform 'Uncle Lim Kit Siang', the rakyat is tired and angered by Harapan's false promises, which are nothing more than lies to topple BN," he said.

Mohd Hairi was responding to Lim, who said yesterday that he agreed with DAP's Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng that the government should not deregister Umno despite the wrongdoings of some of its leaders.

The Iskandar Puteri MP also claimed that after a series of corruption scandals, Umno is now in an "advanced stage of self-destruction" as it seeks to launch an alliance with PAS.

Lim further said as DAP had previously been subjected to a de-registration threat over false claims surrounding the conduct of its internal polls, he does not wish for any other party to fall under the same "death sentence" ordeal.

"In a democracy, let voters decide whether a political party should be dumped in the rubbish bin.

"This is why I agree with Lip Eng – don’t deregister Umno – let it self-destruct," he had said.