Zahid: Umno will take Putrajaya only through the 'front door'

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has reiterated that its agenda to form the government will be through a legitimate and democratic way.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who called on party members not to be influenced by what is being said in the social media or by instigators, said that the Umno MPs have all guaranteed that they will remain lawmakers representing the party and Barisan Nasional.

“That is their guarantee. We have agreed that any action from us will be en bloc, together and united.

“We are united in wanting to form the government only through the front door, ” he said in his winding-up speech at the end of the Umno general assembly on Saturday (Dec 7).

Barisan Nasional has 41 seats in Dewan Rakyat with 38 MPs from Umno, two from MCA and one from MIC

Several Umno lawmakers were reported to have privately met Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, further fuelling speculation on attempts to form a back-door government.

On Muafakat Nasional, Zahid said that “there is chemistry” between Umno and PAS, which had made it easy for the two Malay-based parties to formalise a cooperation agreement.

“If we can continue with the existing understanding and cooperation and good chemistry with our friends from PAS and Barisan Nasional, I am confident that in GE15, Putrajaya will be ours, ” he said.