AN Umno youth delegate says the party should focus on winning the next general election rather than get back into power through the back door.

Umno Cheras representative Johari Yazid said the party had fought hard and lost the last general election but it did not mean it had lost resolve to win the next one.

“Why should there be any worry of our commitment (for next general election). We want to an honest government that is chosen by the people,” he said when debating the president’s speech today.

He added the people want to see Umno come back with a new image.

“We will continue our efforts to win the hearts of the people. We are confident of winning them over.

“We also hope the people don’t get disgusted with national politics (back door government talk). It may be our downfall.”

Yesterday, PAS said it had no problems with forming a back door government, said Takiyuddin Hassan after Umno indicated it would only take federal power through a general election.

Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general, equated the formation of a government to a football match, where teams would exploit weaknesses to score over their opponents.

Meanwhile, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Muafakat Nasional charter would not make use of back door avenues to form a new federal government.

Umno and PAS had signed a political pact on September 14 for the two opposition parties to collaborate following Barisan Nasional’s loss of federal power last year. – December 7, 2019.