[UPDATED] Umno’s top five convenes ahead of Supreme Council meeting

KUALA LUMPUR – The top five Umno leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, have met this afternoon, ahead of a full-fledged Supreme Council meeting scheduled at 8pm tonight.

A picture of Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, along with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, as well as Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin was shared on social media.

Umno’s political bureau, which includes top leaders and state liaison chairmen, is also scheduled to convene before the Supreme Council meeting tonight.

The crux of the discussion is assumed to be about a detailed timeline of the general election, believed to be called this year, and party preparations ahead of the polls.

Previously, Ismail Sabri said the party’s top five leaders were expected to discuss the date for the upcoming polls.

He added that there is still a window for holding the election this year, and a discussion among the top five could be held as soon as possible or before Budget 2023 tabling on October 7.

Ismail Sabri had moved the budget tabling forward from October 28 to next Friday, which led to speculation that Parliament will likely be dissolved soon after to make way for a general election.

This was followed through by Zahid’s calls that Barisan Nasional leaders and component party members are “willing to wade through floods to campaign”.

However, this has been met with strong criticism from the opposition and rights groups due to the possible dangers of holding an election during the monsoon season. – The Vibes, September 30, 2022