Brace for early GE16 if BN-PN wins Melaka, says Samsuri

 PN chairman says it could set off further 'political developments' and put pressure on PH to dissolve Parliament.

PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar took issue with the prime minister’s call for Melaka voters to elect candidates with direct access to his office, saying this was an outdated election ploy.

PETALING JAYA:

Perikatan Nasional chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has predicted that an early general election would be called if the PN-Barisan Nasional alliance wins the Melaka polls on Saturday.

The PAS vice-president said a victory for the two allied coalitions could set off further “political developments” and put pressure on Pakatan Harapan, whose chairman Anwar Ibrahim is prime minister.

He did not elaborate on what these “political developments” would entail.

“I would not be surprised if Parliament were dissolved before the end of its term,” he said on the Kekal Tenang podcast.

Samsuri, who is also Terengganu menteri besar, said PN’s election machinery must therefore be prepared for the 16th general election (GE16) to be called at any time.

“Brace for impact,” he added.

GE16 is only due by early 2028 if Parliament serves its full term, but opposition leader and Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin previously predicted that Anwar would call for the nationwide polls by August next year.

BN and PN are working together in the 16th Melaka state election, with BN contesting 23 seats and PN five. BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said PN would be invited to join the state government if the alliance wins.

Outdated election ploy

Separately, Samsuri took issue with Anwar’s call for Melaka voters to elect candidates with direct access to his office, describing it as an outdated election ploy.

He said such connections might not last after GE16 as there was no guarantee Anwar would remain prime minister, while having direct access to Putrajaya would mean little if an assemblyman ends up being isolated in the Melaka assembly.

“There is no need for such an argument. That is an argument from the 1980s,” he said, adding that Malaccans should instead consider how candidates intend to govern and address the state’s problems.

Last Thursday, Anwar urged voters to choose candidates who had a “direct line” to the Prime Minister’s Office, saying this would help them resolve local problems and secure development projects.

He cited PH candidates Azman Abidin in Paya Rumput and Farzana Hayani Nasir in Kelebang as examples.

Farzana has served in the PMO as an officer while Azman is a political secretary to Anwar, the PKR president. - FMT