UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has criticised remarks by the Bersatu president who claimed that the government had or would declare a state of emergency to delay the Melaka and Johor state elections due to fear of losing.
Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the allegation was baseless and stressed that the government had no intention of repeating measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that in 2021, then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had declared an emergency which not only postponed elections but also suspended Parliament.
“During COVID-19 in 2021, Muhyiddin, when he was prime minister, did not only postpone elections but also suspended Parliament,” he said.
“Muhyiddin also intended to declare an emergency to suspend parliamentary sittings,” he added.
Zahid said there was no issue of postponing the Melaka or Johor state elections, as both states remain within their respective electoral timelines.
He also stressed that the unity government had never issued any statement suggesting that the elections would be delayed.
“The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has never issued any statement to postpone state elections,” he said.
He further clarified that the federal government does not have the authority to dissolve the Johor or Melaka state legislative assemblies.
“The dissolution of the Johor State Assembly is the prerogative of the Sultan of Johor, while Melaka is under the authority of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka,” he said.
Zahid made the remarks after officiating a Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) event in Dungun, Terengganu, where UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was also present. - April 20, 2026
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