VOXPOP | Umno may have been ousted from government in the 14th general election, but presidential hopeful Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed last week that the party may not have to wait till the next election to form the government again.

Pakatan Harapan is "shaky", he said, and that any individual breaking away from the coalition may come over to Umno.

At today's Titiwangsa Umno division delegates meeting, members said they would trust their leaders to get the party back into power before the 15th general election.

"Those in the top leadership, when they give their opinions, they might have certain strategies which we in the bottom do not know.

"Insya Allah, if they work hard, it could happen," Yazid Mydin, 48, told Malaysiakini today at Flamingo Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where the Titiwangsa Umno division delegates meeting was being held.

This was echoed by Nooraziyah Aziz (photo), saying that they must find good leaders first.

"Even at the grassroots level, we need to change and find better leaders. To me, we have to give them (the leaders) our full trust.

"We need to be confident and then we can win," she said.

When asked about a possible cooperation between Umno and PAS, she said she would be open to working with PAS over religious matters as their goals to that end are similar.

Two others, Siti Hazira Hadis, 57 and Suhaimi Jasmin, 43, also believe that it is possible for Umno to become the government again before GE15, but that this would be dependent on the strength of the new leaders chosen at the party polls today.

"I agree and believe that Umno will return to power before GE15 if the central leadership gets a strong team.

"I believe they can, they might have learned from their mistakes," Suhaimi said, but added that Umno is strong enough on its own without needing to forge cooperation with PAS.

"I'm sorry, but if Umno is already strong by ourselves, we do not need to rely on anyone," he added.

Some Umno members, however, told Malaysiakini they disagreed with Zahid's remark.

Omar Abbas (photo) said Umno should only become the government again through a proper election.

"To me, the only way you can get back into power is through the ballot box. That is the right way," he said.

He was also against Umno working together with PAS merely for the sake of garnering more seats.

"If you want to work together, it has to be a harmonious coalition. If it is just to win seats, then there is no point," he said.

Zahid overconfident

Ismail Alis, 69, also did not seem to believe Umno could form a government again before GE15, saying that Zahid seemed too confident in his remark.

"Him saying that, he is too confident because BN gives a lot and promises a lot. So I feel, if you do such a thing, people will just accept, but their support is not in the bag for sure.

"He is confident, but he is just being full of himself... But it is not right," he said.

Instead, Ismail (photo) noted, Umno should focus on solidifying unity within the party and regaining the people's trust by being honest.

He also believes that Umno is strong enough to stand by itself, and should only work with PAS over religious matters.

"If it (Umno) wants to work with PAS, there is a right way to do it.

"If it is about religion, or people hitting out against Islam, then yes, it can work with PAS, but if it is just about winning, each party has their own way," he said.

Umno is set to elect a new line-up of top leadership today. Titiwangsa Umno division chief Johari Abdul Ghani is running for the vice-presidency of the party.