GE15: Umno’s ‘dirty trick’ to push for polls during monsoon, says Dr M

PUTRAJAYA: Pushing for the 15th General Election to be held during the monsoon is a “dirty trick” by Umno, says former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"This is what is hoped by Umno that the election is held during the floods as the number of voters coming out will be less.

"But they are in control of all the government machinery and will move and take their own voters to vote.

"The supporters of the opposition parties will not have this privilege, so this is a ‘dirty trick’ by Umno," Dr Mahathir said at a Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) press conference in Yayasan Perdana on Tuesday (Oct 11).

Asked what was the difference when he called for the general election during the peak of the monsoon season in 1999, the GTA chairman said that it was different then.

"In 1999, climate change was not that much.

"But this time, we know that all over the world, there are severe floods and strong winds and storms.

"This is a different phenomenon," said Dr Mahathir.

He claimed that Umno was more interested in helming power rather than the welfare of the rakyat.

"Seizing power is endemic to Umno," he added.

He also claimed that Umno would seek a pardon for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and that corruption charges against him and party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be dropped if they won the polls.

Dr Mahathir dissolved Parliament on Nov 11, 1999 with the 10th general election held on Nov 29. Barisan Nasional won 148 seats.

Asked on whether the anti-hopping law would bring greater stability to the country after the general election, Dr Mahathir said that it would.

He said the anti-hopping law would prevent the collapse of a government merely by a handful of MPs who switch parties.

However, he said that the anti-hopping law would not prevent entire parties from switching alliances.

The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara passed amendments to the Federal Constitution to prevent party-hopping by MPs on July 28 and Aug 9 respectively.

The law became enforceable on Oct 5.

Asked if he would consider working with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir said that the question should be posed to the Opposition chief.

"The question should be given to him (Anwar).

"The problem is that he doesn't want to work with me.

"I am a very nice man," he said, drawing laughter from the media.

There was a lot of pressure on Dr Mahathir to hand over the post of prime minister to Anwar during Pakatan Harapan's administration in 2020 just prior to Dr Mahathir's resignation in February that year.