Umno man: Hold GE15 now, handle global economic crisis next year

 

The 15th general election (GE15) has to be held this year to enable a more competent government to handle the global economic crisis that is expected to happen next year, said Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil.

He said this during a Facebook live session with Umno Online titled ‘Malaysia in the verge of an election’ last night.

"We are expected to face a few crises next year, starting with the floods in December.

"This, followed by a global economic crisis and recession projected to happen next year by the World Bank, and the Singaporean and Indonesian leaders, among others," Isham (above) was quoted as saying.

According to him, the country needs a competent line-up in the cabinet to handle these projected crises, and the general election is the best way to make the pick.

"To face these issues, we need competent policymakers. If we have ministers who are not focused (on their jobs), how can we face these issues?

"[Currently] we have certain ministers who are not only incompetent but not focused on their jobs. I think it is better to resolve these issues first," he said, adding that this is the reason why an election is needed to 'reset' the government.

After the 'reset', the prime minister will have more freedom to choose a more competent line-up for the cabinet, he noted.

Isham further claimed that he had gone on a nationwide tour to gauge the rakyat's and grassroots opinions about the need for an election, and generally, all of them wanted the polls to be held as soon as possible.

"Not only the Umno grassroots, but the rakyat also want it. I watched the interview by Astro Awani where people in Kelantan and Terengganu said the election should be held as the economy is now uncertain, and investors are shying away (from investing) until an election is held."

All eyes are on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to see whether he will seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament.

It has been previously reported that Ismail Sabri will seek the Parliament's dissolution tomorrow, upon which the presentation of Budget 2023 scheduled on the same day would have to be postponed. - Mkini