UMNO Youth today told the party’s top leaders to stop negotiations with Pakatan Harapan components on the possibility of a tie-up to form the government after the 15th general election.

Wing chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said such wheeling and dealing for power will cause more lawmakers and grassroots members to quit Umno.

“Umno does not have to sell its dignity by taking these shortcuts or rushing headlong via the back door to regain power,” he said in a statement.

“Any ongoing efforts by some to negotiate either with the proxies of (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) or (PKR president and prime minister-designate) Anwar Ibrahim should be stopped immediately.

“As long as such efforts exist, Umno will be seen as having no direction, and is poised to split up even more.”

The statement comes after it was reported that Barisan Nasional secretary-general Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz held a series of meetings with division leaders to get them to support Anwar as the next prime minister, with the intent of forging a pact with PKR and DAP.

Nazri said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had given his blessing to the move.

“Umno cannot take shortcuts to rush back into power. There will be repercussions, and Umno could be punished further in the next general election,” said Asyraf.

“What Umno should do is focus on the fears and restlessness in the party. Its leaders must make the party a strong, viable opposition, as agents of checks and balances to the government.

“This means Umno must acknowledge its past mistakes and wrongdoings, and apologise to the people.” – December 14, 2018.