Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has labelled some former Cabinet ministers who criticise the government as 'gila talak'.

Ahmad Zahid said this is because some of them accused the government as being ‘flip flop’ or not standing by the decisions they made, especially after listening to the rakyat’s responses.

“These are people who are ‘gila talak’. When they have a position, they didn’t do it; when they don’t have a position, they say the government is not right,” he said during his speech at the Sarawak Zone Home Ministry's Excellence Awards ceremony, here, today.

He said when the former ministers were holding their posts, they were also sensitive to people’s demands and act on it.

However, he said when the current government does the same, it is being accused of not standing by its decisions.

“The leader thinks he is the smartest and that he is the best.

“His term is over, so please respect the current leadership and officials," he said without specifying the former leaders’ name.

He added that prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, more often than not, is bombarded with ‘bullets of criticism’ following the 'open policy' upheld by the government.

He said that the current leadership is not only more attentive to the needs of the people, but it also redoubles its efforts for the people.