Better to hold GE15 next year, says Anwar

 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said attendance at recent ceramahs had shown the party was enjoying increasing support.

PETALING JAYA: The government must be responsible and hold the general election at a suitable time next year to ensure it does not burden the public, says Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said he was concerned with the possibility of floods affecting the election if it is held this year, adding that GE15 should be called once everything is under control.

Anwar said there had been increasing public support for the party, citing the party’s recent mega ceramahs in Gombak, Kuala Pilah and Port Dickson.

“The response was incredible and there seems to be a comeback. This is because the public is frustrated with the rising cost of living, the fall of the ringgit and widespread corruption in the government,” he said.

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Anwar’s remarks about the timing of the general election came after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had criticised the opposition for objecting to early elections, saying it showed they were weak and afraid.

However, Anwar said the decision on when to hold the elections was in the hands of the Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Yang-di Pertuan Agong.

Anwar also said it was clear that there are signs of division among parties in the federal ruling coalition, particularly between supporters of the prime minister and those of Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

On Sept 19, Muhyiddin said a general election should be held soon if Ismail could not manage the economy and country well. He said the falling value of the ringgit, rising inflation and current economic climate had hit regular Malaysians hard.

Ismail has since rebuked his predecessor, saying that Muhyiddin was just as responsible for any of the government’s shortcomings and that he had failed in his role as the government’s adviser. - FMT