Dr M: GTA will determine support for GE15 only after concrete dates announced, later the better

CYBERJAYA: Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) will determine its support for the 15th General Election (GE15) after the Prime Minister has proposed the dates to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The GTA chairman and former prime minister said the decision to support or oppose will be made after the dates were announced, though the coalition is of the opinion that GE15 should be held at a later date.

"We (GTA) feel that the election should be held when we are not facing big floods or strong winds, so that our voters are safe.

"I think it is best for it to be next year after the rainy season," he said to the media after the "Suara Tanah Air" programme organised by the GTA youth wing.

Dr Mahathir, in his speech, claimed that the current government will choose an election date that would be to its own benefit.

"They (the government) will choose an election date that will benefit them.

"That's why they planned for an election date, even though there will be floods either at the end of this month or in November," he said.

On Friday (Sept 30), Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also Umno vice-president, has been urged to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present a few potential dates to dissolve Parliament by the end of the year.

Ahmad said the decision by the Umno supreme council was consistent with the party’s stand from the beginning to return the mandate to Malaysians after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020.