Q1 polls? Tackle floods and Covid-19 first, says Hadi

 

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang does not appear to be enthusiastic about the prospect of having a general election in the first quarter of this year.

Speaking to reporters after delivering his weekly morning lecture in Marang, Terengganu today, Hadi said problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and floods should be resolved first.

He said the appropriate authorities would also have to be consulted.

"Surely we don't want (elections) in the middle of floods and when Covid-19 is spreading.

"We have to talk to the authorities, the Health Ministry (for instance). There's also unpredictability due to floods. We don't want to cause the rakyat hardship," he said.

Umno delegates will decide at the party's general assembly on Jan 31 whether the party will take the position that fresh elections need to be held in this first quarter.

Certain factions within the party, including those loyal to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, are adamant about having fresh polls as they are no longer keen on working with Bersatu.

Among other reasons, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party was not happy because criminal charges levelled against some Umno figures during the Pakatan Harapan-administration have not been dropped.

When asked about the progress on discussions over the allocation of seats between Perikatan Nasional coalition parties, Hadi said he preferred to wait until the general election is called to answer that question.

However, he did not dismiss the possibility that Terengganu PAS will face problems because its Umno counterpart does not appear keen on cooperating.

"Wait. The elections haven't been called yet.

"Discussions are ongoing. Cooperation is not just with Umno. It involves Umno and other parties in PN," he said. - Mkini