Umno’s top five should help PM decide GE15 date, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno's top five leaders should help Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to make the right decision on when the 15th general election (GE15) should be called, says Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic).

The Barisan Nasional advisory board chairman was referring to the Umno president, the deputy president and the three vice-presidents.

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“Because the stakes are too high, the right decision must be made, it’s about our future,” said Najib during his speech at the Barisan convention at the World Trade Centre KL on Wednesday (June 1)

The former prime minister admitted that GE14 should have been held after Malaysia hosted the South-East Asia Games in Aug 2017.

“If it (elections called) was done then, perhaps we could’ve won big. But because of certain pressures, we delayed calling the election, and we (Barisan) were defeated,” he said.

Najib said Barisan should take advantage of the disarray in the Opposition to hold the elections.

“While they are in disarray, Barisan is getting stronger. We may have our problems, but we are stronger now,” said the Pekan MP.

Ismail Sabri had indicated that he is in no rush to call for national polls any time soon, contrary to speculation that polls may be held before the year end.

He had told Nikkei Asia in an interview on Tuesday (May 31) that rising food costs and other living expenses were among the reasons.

The current Parliament term ends in June next year.

The government and Pakatan had signed an agreement on bipartisan cooperation, which among others, called for Parliament not to be dissolved before July 31 to allow a period of political stability.

However, Umno, the biggest component party in Barisan, has been pushing for general elections to be called.