BN risks losing GE15 if not held this year, says Ahmad Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Delaying the general election means giving "ammunition" to the Opposition to attack Barisan Nasional, says coalition chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He added that Umno leaders and the grassroots were confident that it is timely to hold the polls this year, and further postponement could risk a defeat.

“Delaying GE15 means giving the enemy ammunition to continue attacking (us),” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Aug 20).

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Ahmad Zahid said that the Opposition was currently creating perceptions to shake the confidence of the coalition's grassroots supporters.

“They (the Opposition) are ‘spinning’ issues to prove that they were the best administration despite the fact that they were not during 22 months in power.

“What’s important is that Umno does not want the Opposition to continue its attacks against Barisan in the months to come if the polls are only held next year,” he added.

Ahmad Zahid was commenting on Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement saying that Barisan would win in a landslide if the polls are held this year.

“He (Dr Mahathir) has to admit that from the government’s perspective, early polls are something good as we are ready while the Opposition is not.

“Umno has made a stand (to hold early polls) a long time ago. It now depends on the government leadership to fulfil the grassroots demand,” he said.

On Friday (Aug 19), Dr Mahathir said in an interview with The Associated Press that Umno felt it was likely to win big if the election was held this year, saying the public still looked up to them and the Opposition was split.