'No' to backdoor government with Harapan parties - Zahid

UMNO AGM | Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reiterated the party's stand to reject forming a backdoor government with Pakatan Harapan parties.

He said BN can form the government via Muafakat Nasional, which was pushed by PAS and Umno to form a strong opposition bloc for the next general election.

"Through the Muafakat Nasional, we do not dream of a change of government via backdoor, despite it being wide open," he told 2,695 delegates in his policy speech at the Umno general assembly.

"Despite both front door and backdoor opened widely, we will still choose the front door.

"We will form the government according to the democratic principle as enshrined in the Federal Constitution," Zahid said.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also attended the general assembly, and he sat on the stage together with Umno leadership.

Speculation is rife that former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is attempting to form a government without DAP and Amanah.

This escalated following a meeting believed to have taken place at the residence of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali between at least 22 BN MPs and five from PKR in Putrajaya last Monday.

Hishammuddin has denied the existence of such a plot while the MPs claimed that the meeting was about economic matters and allocations for their constituencies.

[More to follow] - Mkini