MPs told to update records, some see this as precursor to GE

Parliament administrators have instructed MPs to update their records in a move seen by some as a signal that the next general election is very near.

In an email from Parliament’s MPs Affairs Division on June 3, the lawmakers have been instructed to fill in three forms related to pension payments.

Several MPs contacted by Malaysiakini have confirmed receiving the letter. Their deadline to comply is June 10.

Some parliamentarians believed that this was not necessarily a sign that an election is near and that the practice in the past was for such records to be updated during the final two years of a term.

The current term of Parliament expires on July 16, 2023.

‘Not normal procedure’

However, a Warisan source told Malaysiakini that the email was not part of normal procedure.

The source said that in 2018, the same letter was issued to MPs around three weeks before Parliament was dissolved.

“It is only sent when (the administrators) are given the instructions to do so,” he added.

The then government led by Najib Abdul Razak dissolved Parliament on April 7, 2018. An election was held on May 9.

Umno top brass has been pushing Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to hold snap polls now to capitalise on BN's popularity, which they believe was on a high note following the recent Malacca and Johor state elections.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

However, some Umno cabinet ministers such as Khairy Jamaluddin and Annuar Musa believe that the party was not fully prepared for a snap election just yet.

As for Ismail Sabri, who is an Umno vice-president, he has issued mixed signals regarding the timing of the election.

He has hinted that polls should not be held soon because the country is facing inflationary pressures. However, at the recent BN convention, Ismail Sabri said he will not delay an election once BN is “fully prepared”. - Mkini