KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is confident that the 15th general election will be called before the year-end flood season.
Zahid explained that party leaders have based their assessment on reports from the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
“On September 30, the Supreme Council decided for a general election to be called within the year.
“We have analysed the report from the director-general of MetMalaysia and Insya-Allah, the election will be held before the flood season,” he said during a press conference at the World Trade Centre.
On September 30, the Umno Supreme Council reached a consensus to call for an election within the year.
The Bagan Datuk MP was speaking at a special meeting at the World Trade Centre earlier today with some 800 grassroots leaders.
The closed-door meeting was held to rally the party under the banner of unity and solidarity before heading into the coming general election.
Previously, Zahid stated that Barisan Nasional is ready to brave the floods to campaign if the general election is held during the monsoon season.
MetMalaysia had reported that the country would experience continuous heavy rains from mid-November leading to major floods at the end of the month.
This had led to lawmakers from both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional chastising Zahid for his supposedly incessant demands for an election to be held during the monsoon season.
This has also led to a flurry of rumours that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is likely to dissolve Parliament soon after the 2023 budget is tabled this coming Friday.
When asked whether he knew whether Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, had met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to discuss the dissolution, Zahid said only the prime minister is privy to such matters.
Zahid added that it is the prerogative of the prime minister to dissolve Parliament after receiving consent from the Agong. – The Vibes, October 4, 2022
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