Zahid: GE15 delay will give Opposition the upper hand

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 was timely to hold the polls this year as any further postponement could risk a defeat.

“Delaying GE15 means giving the enemy ammunition to continue attacking (us),” he said on Facebook yesterday.

The Opposition, said Ahmad Zahid, 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 their 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 that Barisan would secure a landslide win should the polls be 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 made a stand (to hold early polls) a long time ago. It now depends on the government’s leadership to fulfil the grassroots’ demand,” he said.

On Friday, Dr Mahathir said in an interview that Umno felt it was likely to win big if the elections were held this year, saying the public still looked up to them and that the Opposition was split.

Voicing his support for Ahmad Zahid, Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil said waiting any longer would affect the coalition’s good momentum from the state elections held previously.

He also said that the implementation of Undi18 would be an advantage instead of a disadvantage for Barisan.

“If we look at Johor state election, we found that we won between 70% to 80% of votes from young people.

“This is 180º change compared to the previous general election.”