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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s expectation for the 15th general election (GE15) to be held within two months from now proves that he is insensitive to the problems faced by the people, said PKR communication chief Fahmi Fadzil.
The Lembah Pantai MP told a press conference today that it is unwise to hold GE15 as early as this September as the government and relevant parties should be given space to resolve issues pertaining to the rising costs of living which are severely impacting the people.
“I think Datuk Asyraf is seemingly insensitive to the people’s struggles – with the surge in prices for poultry and oil – he could still think of holding a GE,” he was quoted as saying by The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran.
“This is an act of thinking of his own ‘rice bowl’ when he should be thinking of the people’s ‘rice bowl’ instead because the people are affected.
“At the same time, all parties are working. For me, I am implementing various initiatives and programmes to help the people. There are some who have just been able to work again but all of the sudden, he (Asyraf) wants to head straight to the polls.
“It is highly inappropriate at this time,” he said at an event at Dewan Terbuka Dataran Seri Angkasa today.
The opposition lawmaker also reminded Asyraf that the power to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament is not solely in the hands of the prime minister, but collectively through the consent of the cabinet.
“He must remember, the one who makes the decision (to dissolve Parliament) is the cabinet and (they) will advise the king.
“So don’t bypass the existing process and don’t take more than a spoonful of gravy (jangan lebih sudu daripada kuah). That’s my advice.”
Yesterday, Asyraf said he expects the looming GE to be held in September or October.
He said the elections should be held earlier based on the urgency to return the mandate to the people in a bid to stabilise the government.
According to the Umno leader, the election is unlikely to be held in November or December as it is the monsoon season which would make it difficult for the people to go out to vote.
If the election were to be held late, he said, it would inflict more stress on the people due to rising prices and various economic issues following an unstable government.
However, Fahmi predicts that 2023 would be the best time for the country to dissolve Parliament in order to make way for the election.
“I am a little worried of the announcement made by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin about the possibility of a new pandemic wave. We also, firstly, want to know the effect of the subsidy reduction on the people’s economy.
“Maybe the beginning or mid of next year is the most appropriate. In any case, Pakatan Harapan (PH) has not made any announcement. Therefore, we must be subjected to the government’s decision especially the prime minister. Now, we focus on the people,” he said.
He, however, said that PKR and PH are ready to face the election should it be held in the near future, expecting the opposition bloc to be better prepared than the government component parties.
“PKR and DAP’s internal party elections have ended and Amanah does not have one. I see that we are more and more ready to face the election.
“I’m not sure for Umno, what’s the decision of the party’s registrar of societies via the Registration of Societies. I think Asyraf can think about that instead of wanting to speed up the election. Maybe he’d have to face his party election first,” he said. – The Vibes, July 1, 2022
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