Umno wants GE15 only after July, says Asyraf

 

Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said any decision on calling for a general election must be in accordance with the MoU with Pakatan Harapan.

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says that the top leadership has agreed unanimously to call for the 15th general election (GE15) only after July next year but before the party elections.

Asyraf said the matter was decided upon during an Umno Supreme Council meeting recently. “We fully agreed for the election to be held after July but before Umno’s party elections,” he told FMT.

Separately, an Umno division in Negeri Sembilan has resolved that party elections should be held first before any general election is called. Jelubu division chief Jalaluddin Alias said earlier that party elections would ensure that the party’s machinery would have a renewed mandate from members, and be more prepared to face GE15.

Asyraf’s comments were in response to remarks by Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier today. He had urged party members and the leadership to be patient and continue supporting him as prime minister to enable him to focus on resolving the country’s economic and health issues.

“I need support from the party for the strength to fight on. The biggest challenges are the issues facing the people and not the endless politicking,” said the Umno vice-president.

Asyraf said the Umno leadership had pledged earlier that they will give their full support to the prime minister to ensure success in his efforts to help the people through the economic challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“All Umno leaders including the president and deputy president fully support the prime minister’s leadership,” he said. Any decision taken on the general election must respect the political understanding (MoU) between the government and Pakatan Harapan.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan had said recently that the prime minister has been encouraged to call for GE15 soon, as the people are seemingly with Barisan Nasional, following the coalition’s win at the Melaka polls.

However, Ismail reminded all parties that while they were free to air their views, they must also respect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional power to decide whether to dissolve Parliament. - FMT