NIBONG TEBAL: Many people, including heads of government departments at the national level, are not in favour of holding the 15th General Election (GE15) during the monsoon season, says Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Having experienced major floods in Selangor last year, Penang (2017), Kelantan (2014) and Johor (2006 and 2007) during this period of time, the Selangor Mentri Besar said the Pakatan Harapan coalition is concerned with the well-being of the people if GE15 was called during the monsoon season.
He added that Pakatan was never afraid of facing GE15 as claimed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who had said Pakatan was worried about losing the general election.
"We have told them to wait, we ask them why the rush.
"It is clear that people will reject Umno and Barisan if they are still adamant at holding GE15 during monsoon season, just like when they decide to hold polls during GE14 on Wednesday," he said, adding that about 20% to 30% of voters had rejected Barisan during GE14.
Last month, Ahmad Zahid said there should be no issue with calling a general election during the monsoon season as former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had previously done it in November 1999.
The Umno president, in trying to silent critics, alleged that the Opposition was trying to incite the people by saying that holding snap polls towards the end of the year would expose them to the risk of floods.
Budget 2000 was presented in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 29, 1999, by the then finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, but Parliament was dissolved on Nov 10 before it could be passed.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the monsoon season normally starts from September until the end of the year.
Amirudin also said Pakatan Harapan was always ready to face the impending general election.
The Selangor Pakatan chairman said that unlike Umno and Barisan Nasional, the political pact between Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara was the strongest political bloc in the country.
"Umno is currently divided and Perikatan Nasional as well, where PAS is trying to return to its relations with Barisan (Umno) after getting into Perikatan.
"Pakatan, I am grateful to say, has moved on.
"We have observed and identified our way forward in the coalition in preparing for GE15," he said during his speech at Rapat Mega Keadilan in Sungai Bakap on Sunday (Oct 2) night.
Amirudin said so far, Pakatan had completed about 95% of the seat negotiations among its coalition partners in the Peninsular.
He added that as political organisations, PKR and its partners must always be ready for GE15 although they have to face a Barisan Nasional that is in a hurry to take over the country just like it did in the Melaka and Johor elections.
