Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has sidestepped queries on when Parliament will be dissolved.
He told reporters to “wait first” when asked about the matter.
“Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan made a statement, so we used his statement as party secretary-general because we decided in the supreme council that he is the only spokesperson,” he said.
He was asked to respond to Ahmad’s statement yesterday where he revealed the prime minister will be proposing a date for Parliament’s dissolution to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Ismail Sabri acknowledged that Umno has been calling for the election to be held for some time.
“It’s nothing new. Let us return it (mandate) to the rakyat to make a decision. Let the people decide,” he added.
When asked about the conditions for dissolving Parliament, the Bera MP clarified that none of the Umno ‘top five’ and its political bureau had set conditions.
“If we want to hold an election and we have a strong basis for us to accelerate and agree together, we will do it.
“Just wait for the date to be announced,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters today at Menara Matrade, Kuala Lumpur during a special gathering for Peninsular Malaysia’s National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).
“Wait lah, if we have been waiting since last year, we can wait a little longer this year,” he added when asked how much longer till the declaration of the dissolution date.
Yesterday, the Umno supreme council decided that Parliament should be dissolved soon to pave way for the 15th general election to be held by this year.
As such, Ahmad said the prime minister will be proposing the date for Parliament’s dissolution to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in line with Article 40(1) of the Federal Constitution.
“The meeting decision is based on Umno’s consistent stand since early on to return the mandate to the people, which had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government because of their in-fighting,” Ahmad had said.
On the ongoing sedition probe against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, the Umno man said the government will soon prepare the investigation papers.
Teachers’ grade advancements
Separately, Ismail Sabri revealed the grade advancements of 2,047 primary school principals, guru penolong kanan (senior assistant teachers), and guru cemerlang (excellent teachers).
“Grade DG48 headmasters (special to incumbent) will not be demoted to senior assistant teachers or regular teachers in primary schools when they progress to Grade DG52 and DG54 in accordance with time-based promotions on excellence.
“The grades of headmasters and senior assistant teachers in primary schools will increase to a maximum of Grade DG54.
“The implementation of grade advancements for the headmaster and senior assistant teacher positions will allow them to rise up the ranks to higher grades and remain in their positions until Grade DG54,” he said in his speech during the special NUTP gathering.
The prime minister added that “serious attention” will be provided to dilapidated schools in East Malaysia in the upcoming Budget 2023. - Mkini
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