PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) has pooh-poohed allegations that Umno is threatening to sack him if he does not call for the general election soon.
“There’s no such thing,” said the Umno vice-president.
Talk of Umno’s threat surfaced after the supreme council meeting on Saturday, which was held immediately after the special briefing on former party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The briefing, chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saw loud cries for the dissolution of Parliament and there were boos whenever the Prime Minister’s name was mentioned.
However, Ismail Sabri, who is one of three vice-presidents, denied that he was under any pressure to dissolve Parliament.
Instead, he described the supreme council meeting as warm, cordial and friendly.
“There is no issue. Sometimes, people outside see it differently, whereas the situation inside is different.
“In Umno, we respect differences in opinion,” he told reporters after addressing the annual civil servants gathering here yesterday.
While the current parliamentary term ends in July, Umno has been pressuring for the polls to be held as soon as possible.
The demands were especially loud during the party’s special briefing, which was held days after Najib’s jail sentence and fine in the RM42mil SRC International case was upheld by the Federal Court last week.
He was sent to Kajang Prison immediately after.
On Monday, fellow vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid also said claims that Ismail Sabri was given an ultimatum during the meeting was aimed at splitting Umno.
Describing the allegations as lies, he said there were some quarters who wanted to take advantage of the latest developments in the party.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, meanwhile, has said the Prime Minister has given his commitment to call for the election by the end of this year.
