KUALA LUMPUR – While talks about the 15th general election (GE15) being called before the end of the current parliamentary term have been rife, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong revealed that the cabinet yesterday held extensive discussions on preparations for the upcoming polls.
Speaking to press members today, Wee said the ministers also deliberated on preparations to face possible floods come year-end in yesterday’s weekly meeting.
“I cannot reveal what has been discussed in the cabinet, I can only give the gist of it,” he said when asked what was said by other cabinet members.
He said this at a press conference on the Mystery Shopper Programme organised by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd at the Alila hotel, Bangsar this morning.
“We have discussed election preparations and yes, we need to prepare ourselves to face GE15,” the MCA president added.
“At the same time, we cannot ignore preparations for the floods. That is something we learnt from last year.
“We have to make sure that the preparation can be (done) concurrently, whether it’s in the general election or the floods, we have to do it now.”
However, the minister stressed that the date for the national polls will be decided by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, saying “we will know the date once the prime minister makes the decision”.
“We are only waiting for the signal.
“Until then, preparations for the general election have to take place.”
Earlier, it was reported that the cabinet was divided on whether snap polls should be called this year.
According to a report by Utusan Malaysia, an unnamed minister was quoted as saying that a number of other cabinet members were not in favour of dissolving Parliament before Budget 2023 is tabled on October 7.
The Malay daily reported that ministers from Bersatu and PAS have rejected the possibility of calling GE15 anytime soon. Instead, they wanted the government to focus on the economy and flood preparations.
The same minister also told Utusan Malaysia that those who wanted polls to be held this year were Umno ministers.
On Tuesday, PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad said the party’s representatives in the government will suggest that elections not be held this year.
“There is no need to hold GE15, especially when it is (nearing) flood season, we already know there will be floods and it will make it difficult to manage the election,” he said, stressing that PAS would not dissolve the state assemblies in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu until their terms end around March 2023.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said yesterday it was not appropriate to hold GE15 during the flood season as many factors need to be considered.
Besides health considerations, the Health Ministry was of the view that many factors, including manpower and public safety, must be taken into account, he said.
Last Saturday, Ismail Sabri hinted that the national polls will be called “very soon”.
He reiterated that the date will be determined by him and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. – The Vibes, September 22, 2022
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