Time for change: Ahmad Zahid delivering his speech during the special briefing. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Demand for the national polls to be held immediately has gotten so loud it will be hard for the Prime Minister to ignore the calls, say observers.
The call to bubar (dissolve) was also repeated frequently at the Umno special briefing at the World Trade Centre.
The party has been pushing for the general election to be held over the past one year but political observers say yesterday was the loudest.
“It is clear that Umno does not want to wait any longer, especially after the outcome of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal,” said one observer.
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Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had to stop his speech midway as the floor grew rowdy with calls for the dissolution of Parliament.
The Umno president pointed out that the demand to hold GE15 was not new as it began when the Pakatan Harapan government fell and continued when Perikatan Nasional took over.
“Even when our vice-president was appointed as the Prime Minister of this hybrid government, Umno remained adamant the general election should be held soon,” he said.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is one of Umno’s three vice-presidents. The others are Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Ahmad Zahid said this was not his personal call but that of the party supreme council’s. It was also a decision made by delegates at the general assembly earlier this year.
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“The supreme council has given the Prime Minister a guideline as to when GE15 should be held. That it should be called once Malaysia has achieved herd immunity (over the Covid-19 pandemic). Now that we have already achieved this, when?”
At this point, the floor continued to shout bubar repeatedly.
Ahmad Zahid pointed out that Umno had been consistent in its stand for the mandate to be returned to the people.
“We need to have a government that is legitimate and not one that has been formed because of political moves,” he added.
He refuted claims over the reasons behind Umno’s push, including concerns over the outcome of his court case.
“We are not power crazy or acting in desperation,” he said.
The special briefing saw a packed Dewan Merdeka despite it being called at the last minute. Another hall had to be opened up.
Umno Wangsa Maju committee member Datuk Rafi Awang Kechik even went on to suggest that the number of attendees was far more than at the party’s general assembly.
“The election mood is running high among members. It is obvious,” he said.
All of Umno leadership were present.
Ismail Sabri was absent due to another official engagement.
