DATUK Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s push for an earlier general election could be driven by a combination of electoral momentum and growing political pressure, says political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan.
Azmi, of Nusantara Academy, said the momentum from the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections remained important for Barisan Nasional (BN). At the same time, the outcome of the Melaka polls could further influence the coalition’s calculations.
He also pointed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Tabung Haji and developments involving Felda as factors that could be adding to the pressure on Zahid.
“The pressure, combined with the momentum from the state elections, makes it logical for Zahid to call for an early general election,” he said.
Zahid, who is also BN chairman, recently said it would be better for the 16th general election (GE16) to be held earlier rather than wait for the current parliamentary term to run its full course.
He said an earlier election would allow the government to seek a fresh mandate from voters, although BN was prepared to face the polls if the current parliamentary term continued until its expiry.
“In my view, if the general election is held earlier, that would be better so that we can obtain the people’s mandate. But if this term runs until the end, we are also prepared to face it,” Zahid was quoted as saying.
The 15th Parliament is scheduled to run until December 2027, with an election required to be held within 60 days after its dissolution or the expiry of its term.
Zahid also said BN’s approach to working with other coalitions in the next election would be guided by weighing political benefits against potential harm.
He said the same approach was used when BN negotiated cooperation during the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
Azmi said this approach could also explain why Zahid chose not to attend the PAS muktamar, where Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki instead led the party’s delegation.
According to Azmi, Zahid’s absence allows BN to maintain greater flexibility over its political options, including the possibility of future cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
He said Zahid’s presence at the PAS gathering could have been interpreted as a stronger commitment towards cooperation with PN, potentially making it harder for BN to maintain its room for manoeuvre.
By sending the secretary-general, Azmi said, BN could maintain communication with PAS and PN without signalling that any political arrangement had already been settled.
He believes any possible cooperation between BN and PN could instead be finalised closer to the Melaka state election.
For now, Azmi said the approach allowed BN to keep its options open while assessing the political landscape and determining which alliances would best serve its interests.
With GE16 still potentially more than a year away, the timing of the election and BN’s choice of political partners are likely to remain closely linked, particularly as the coalition weighs its recent electoral performance against the pressures facing its leadership. – September 6, 2026
