‘Umno confident polls will be held by year-end’

PETALING JAYA: The recent speech by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob touching on the dissolution of Parliament in the near future further solidifies Umno’s optimism that the general election will be held this year, says Umno secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

“Umno is confident that GE15 will be held between October and December this year. But it has to be before the flood.

“If floods are expected in December, don’t hold (GE15) then.

“The polls can also be held in November. If the election is in November, it means that (the Parliament) has to be dissolved in October,” he said yesterday, as reported by Malay daily Sinar Harian.

On Saturday, Ismail Sabri hinted that GE15 would be held as soon as possible during his speech at the launch of the Barisan Youth machinery in Kuala Lumpur.

He is also reported to have repeated his stance and promised to immediately discuss with the party’s “top five” about the dissolution of Parliament.

The five refers to its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the three vice-presidents – Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Ismail Sabri himself.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Maslan also confirmed that the “top five” meeting on Sept 30 would go on as scheduled.

“I am sure that the Prime Minister’s speech was based on the unofficial ‘top five’ meeting.

“Actually every time before the Umno supreme council meeting, there will be a ‘top five’ meeting followed by a party political bureau meeting in the afternoon.

“The ‘top five’ often meet informally and it is not publicly announced in the media.

“That does not include informal meetings among themselves on other occasions,” he said, after officiating the farmers sports carnival in conjunction with Malaysia Day in Kampung Parit Baru, Ayer Baloi, Johor, yesterday.