Umno wants snap elections

PETALING JAYA: Umno wants a snap general election to be held despite the Covid-19 pandemic, says its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“We understand that we do not want Covid-19 to spread, but we can still follow the standard operating procedure (SOP).

“Why must we be afraid to hold a general election during a pandemic? More than 30 countries have held general elections while facing the Covid-19 pandemic. Why is Malaysia the only country afraid of this?” he said in his speech when opening the Bagan Datoh Umno annual general meeting yesterday.

The former deputy prime minister said although Umno was represented by 11 full ministers in the Perikatan Nasional government and several other deputy ministers, “the fact is Umno is not a dominant party within the government”.

The Bagan Datoh MP reiterated that the support for the current government is only from Umno and Barisan lawmakers.

Zahid said it did not mean that he wanted to join Perikatan.

“The Perikatan presidential council was formed to outline the government’s policies based on the perspective of each party.

“The council was also formed as a check and balance to the policies of the government of the day. It does not translate that we support the formation or the registration of Perikatan, ” he said, adding that Umno remained committed to Muafakat Nasional.

Zahid also said Umno would contest in all of its traditional parliamentary and state seats that the party won in the previous general election.

The party’s supreme council decided that it would field Umno candidates and reclaim all of those seats in the 15th General Election.

The Umno and Barisan Nasional supreme councils had also unanimously decided that the coalition would use the Barisan logo in GE15, he said.

Zahid also questioned the need by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to set up 8,000 branches nationwide in a short period of time.

“Where would they find the members?

“Could there be some who have been ‘bought’ or offered kitchenware sales?” he said, adding that Umno members could not be easily bought over.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had reportedly said that they would set up the new branches within three months.

In Pontian, Johor Mentri Besar and Pontian Umno chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad also pushed for a snap general election.

“Countries such as Singapore, New Zealand and even the United States, which has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths, still held their elections and there was no problem there, ” said Hasni in his speech during the division meeting held here yesterday.

He said that having an election would help create a majority government and bring political stability to the country.

Hasni said there were difficulties in administering the state due to the slim majority the present government had in Johor.

The present state government’s position was fragile with every party making demands, he added.

“It is important for the government to show stability that will attract investors, which is why certain policies from the Pakatan Harapan government will be continued, ” he said.

He added that Johor Umno decided to contest in each of the 26 parliamentary seats in the state except for one, which is the Pagoh parliamentary seat.

“Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin held the seat and we will let him defend it but the Pagoh Umno division wants to contest the seat including the Bukit Kepong and Bukit Pasir state seats.

“We will be meeting with the Pagoh Umno division to find ways to resolve the matter, ” he said.