Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is caught in a bind in deciding when to hold the 15th general election (GE15), Penang Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said.
According to him, this was due to Umno's “constant obsession” with wanting to hold the polls early.
"Ismail Sabri is under tremendous pressure. As the prime minister, he would want the GE15 to be held next year after the monsoon season is over.
"However, as the vice-president of Umno, he has no choice but to adhere to the directive of Umno, as in Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he said, in reference to the Umno president.
It is worth noting that Zahid had been constantly pushing for early elections, which critics claim was a desperate move to save himself from multiple charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and graft, which he is currently facing trial for.
According to Ramasamy (above), Ismail Sabri would “ideally” prefer a scenario where Zahid had been convicted of his charges, as only then the Bera MP can act more authoritatively instead of being a “second echelon Umno leader”.
Ramasamy further admonished Umno for equating an early election to the party's victory, as if it has been predetermined.
Umno is desperate
"This is how desperate Umno is under Zahid's leadership.
"Malaysians must make up their mind whether they want Umno and BN returned to power. The consequences would be devastating, to say the least," he said.
Calling for elections at a time when people’s lives may get disrupted due to floods during the monsoon season showed that Umno did not care about the people's welfare, he added.
Ramasamy claimed that Zahid's call for early polls is tied to the fears and concerns of the “Umno’s court cluster”, who are currently facing charges in courts.
"Early election is needed not just to have BN returned to power, but also to ensure court cases against Zahid and others are not settled before the polls.
"Zahid is worried that if he is convicted, then the possibility of him remaining as Umno president and BN chairperson might be jeopardised,” he said. - Mkini
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