GE15 can wait as Malaysia adjusts to relaxing of Covid-19 SOPs, says KJ

KUALA LUMPUR: Plans to have the 15th General Election needs to be put on hold until a few months after the country’s gradual reopening on April 1, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Health Minister said it is better to wait until the country’s Covid-19 and public health situation truly stabilises, as there would be more relaxed SOPs with Malaysia transitioning to endemicity.

“We will be reopening our borders on April 1, so we want to see the outcome of that. The ministry foresees that the reopening will be done safely and it will not cause much pressure to the public health system.

“There will also be more relaxations from April 1 onwards. We have the Hari Raya festivities coming up. People will congregate for tarawih prayers.

“We want to see in the next few months if the reopening results in an increase in Covid-19 infections.

“An increase in Covid-19 cases is okay, but we do not want a hike in hospital admissions,” said Khairy at a press conference at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly here.

Khairy added that the ministry was also monitoring the situation related to sub variants like Omicron, which he said caused the Covid-19 numbers in Europe to rise.

“We do not know if we will have to deal with new Covid-19 variants, but this is something the ministry is monitoring.

“In Europe and the United Kingdom, we saw their infections go down, but it is rising again,” said Khairy.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said the decision on whether to call for a snap general election is left to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“In his presidential address (at the assembly), he (Ahmad Zahid) pointed out that even though the grassroots want GE15 to be held early, it is up to the Prime Minister. I think it is the right thing to do.

“Surely, the Prime Minister will consider all views, not just the country’s recovery plan, but also on the ongoing plans for institutional reforms. I believe he will also hear the views of the Health Ministry on public health concerns.

“The general election is something that we can put on hold first until the public health situation stabilises,” said Khairy, who is also Rembau Umno deputy chief.

The Umno general assembly has heard many calls from leaders and delegates for GE15 to be expedited, even though the current Parliament term only expires in June 2023.