ARE back-door deals with other parties the main direction for Umno, asked the Youth deputy chief today.

Shahril Hamdan questioned the rationale behind “dealing” with so many different parties.

“It’s been four months since we lost (the 14th general election), and we are still getting mixed signals on the direction Umno needs to take,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Youth congress at the Putra World Trade Centre.

“We keep hearing stories about getting back into the government. That the split in Pakatan Harapan will grant us the opportunity to be back in the government.

“One day, it’s Bersatu, and another day, it’s PKR Team A or Team B. There’s even talk of a deal with PAS. Will DAP be next?”

Since winning the Umno presidency in July, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has attempted to broker deals with PKR, Bersatu and PAS.

Two weeks ago, he became the first Umno president to attend the opening of PAS’ annual congress in Kuala Terengganu since the Islamist party left Barisan Nasional in 1977.

In return, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man is expected to be present when Zahid gives his policy speech tonight.

“Umno’s direction cannot be about back-door deals,” said Shahril.

“Are we to be brokers for other people who want to be prime minister?”

The 32-year-old London School of Economics graduate said there were many “brokers” in the party when BN was in power.

“Do we want to be brokers even when we are out of the government?”

He said Umno must strengthen itself, so that opponents fear it.

“There are some who dream of a mega-Malay-Muslim coalition, but the reality is, Umno and PAS alone, whatever the cooperation, cannot win elections by relying on hardcore voters. We must find ways to attract the young voters who chose PH.” – September 29, 2018.