‘Strike while the iron is hot’, hold GE15 this year, urges Tok Mat

 

Mohamad Hasan says said there was no reason to delay GE15 as experience had shown that elections could be held even during a pandemic. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has called for the general election (GE15) to be held as soon as possible this year.

“Winning an election and controlling the government means planning for a GE to be held at the right time. The recent elections show that the time is now,” he said in his speech at the Umno annual general assembly.

Noting that the opposition had lost many seats in Melaka, Sarawak and Johor, Mohamad said the timing was right because the opposition was “very weak” and divided.

“Perikatan Nasional (PN) has been relying on PAS’ machinery in recent elections,” he said, adding it was becoming less of a threat. “In Johor, we tamed PN, they only won three seats.”

Mohamad, commonly known as Tok Mat, said Umno must take advantage of every opportunity available.

“Strike while your enemy is weak, strike while the iron is hot,” he said.

He said delaying GE15 would only allow space for the opposition to stage a comeback.

Mohamad said there was no reason to delay GE15 as experience had shown that elections could be held even during a pandemic.

The former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar also cautioned that external factors, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and tense US-China relations, had a direct impact on the country’s economy, including skyrocketing prices.

He said this could lead to anger against Umno and Barisan Nasional.

“All this can be used as ammunition by Pakatan Harapan to attack the government, and Umno will also suffer.”

He said this was why it was “very risky” to delay GE15.

Mohamad also said Umno was not just a political party but a “custodian of democracy” and as such must ensure that the people could choose their own government.

“Malaysia has never been ruled by a government that was not formed through the ballot box. How long will we continue to rely on confidence and supply agreements (CSA) and memorandums of understanding (MoU) to manage the country’s stability?”

Umno, he said, must therefore take a stand that GE15 must be held as soon as possible and not next year. - FMT