KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has accused PAS of fearing an early general election due to the possibility of losing seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was taking a jibe at PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, after the latter labelled Umno as “power-crazy” for ostensibly pushing Parliament to be dissolved soon, as relations between the two parties continue to sour.
“Perhaps if the election is held soon, he’s afraid that his party will have less than its existing 18 parliamentary seats,” said Zahid.
He was asked by reporters to comment on Hadi’s remarks yesterday, after attending an event at Umno’s headquarters here today.
Hadi, who is Marang MP, yesterday said Umno’s incessant push for snap polls when the public is facing a multitude of economic issues showed it is power-crazy.
“People who are against (early election) are those who prefer to deliberate. We are conscious of the rakyat, who are facing so many issues, not mentioning Covid-19.”
While PAS won 18 seats in the 2018 general election, it only has 17 seats remaining after Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali quit the party in March this year following a falling out with its top leaders.
PAS has seen its number of parliamentary seats decline over the last three national polls, winning 23, 21 and 18 seats respectively in the 2008, 2013 and 2018 general elections.
Division leaders not confirmed picks for GE
Earlier in a speech, Zahid indicated that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are likely to pick a huge number of fresh faces as candidates for the coming election – a similar approach that saw the coalition score handsome victories in the recent Melaka and Johor elections.
This strategy, he said, is necessary in attracting younger voters, with the new voting age of 18 to be implemented for the first time for the national polls.
“In Melaka, over 80% of candidates were new faces. In Johor, there were over 70%. In the 15th general election, it doesn’t matter if you are an old face. I won’t just pick divisional leaders as candidates.”
Zahid also poured scorn on Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s previous remarks that the election must not be rushed due to the ongoing inflation, urging the prime minister to consider the current political dynamics and reality.
“If the polls are to be held after the inflationary period, then we may have to wait for another two-and-a-half years after the current parliamentary term ends.
“As politics is dynamic, the reality of our future will depend on us identifying an appropriate date (for the election).”
Zahid added that the timing is now ripe to dissolve Parliament seeing that the majority of the youth are beginning to support Umno and BN, citing the Johor election as an example, where the coalition supposedly won all of the youth voting channels.
Timing is key, pass anti-hopping law before GE
Commenting on the government’s decision not to hold a special parliamentary sitting to table the anti-hopping bill, Zahid said regardless of what happens, it is extremely vital that the legislation be passed and gazetted before the next election.
He also urged parties across the divide to support the bill, noting how most of the political outfits have been victims in some ways to party defections.
“What’s important is the intention. If the intention is to table it in Parliament, then regardless of when, it must get the Dewan Rakyat’s backing before the general election.
“We don’t want what happened post-2018 general election to repeat itself. Whether you are the opposition or the government, you must support (the bill).”
On Thursday, law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that there will not be a special sitting on the proposed bill, and that the matter will instead be discussed during the coming July meeting.
He said the decision was made by Ismail Sabri, citing several factors such as the high cost of conducting a special sitting, which he noted could amount to over RM1 million. – The Vibes, June 11, 2022
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