[UPDATED] Umno wanting early polls is good, shows they are weak: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin appears upbeat about Umno wanting an early general election, saying such calls by its top party leaders are an indication of a weakened outfit.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman took note of reports of a purported trust deficit within Barisan Nasional (BN) and its lynchpin party Umno. 

Umno’s loss in popularity, Muhyiddin said, has been aggravated by the view that their demand for a snap election was merely to allow them to retain federal power and save certain party leaders from court action.

“I read Umno president’s (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) comment saying the election must be held this year, that if it is held next year, BN might lose. 

“I’m happy to read this statement, because this means they are not that strong," he said today. 

Umno’s faction aligned to Zahid has been pushing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri to dissolve Parliament as soon as possible, supposedly to take advantage of momentum following victories in the recent Melaka and Johor elections. 

They have warned that the tide could turn against them the longer the polls are postponed.

Separately, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, also revealed details on a supposed agreement inked between PN and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for consultations to be held before Parliament can be dissolved.

“According to this agreement which I signed with the prime minister, when the latter decides on an election date, he must consult with us first, because we are also a part of the government. 

“However, I’m not sure if the prime minister still remembers this agreement,” he said. 

His remark today offers further insight into the details over the supposed agreement between the two parties, which have been scant so far. 

Other than a consultation over the election date, Muhyiddin had also previously revealed that Ismail Sabri had agreed to appoint a deputy prime minister from Bersatu in exchange for support for the Umno vice-president to head the government. 

Muhyiddin said regardless when the election is called, PN would be ready to face it. 

Ismail Sabri appears to have succumbed to internal pressure in bringing forward the tabling of Budget 2023 by three weeks to October 7, a telltale sign that the polls could be held soon. 

This follows the imprisonment of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier this week, and with a number of other Umno top guns facing similar prospect, including Zahid. – The Vibes, August 27, 2022