KUALA LUMPUR: Any decision on the dissolution of state assemblies or the timing of elections must be done strictly in accordance with the law and the Federal Constitution, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).
The remarks by the MCA president come in light of recent speculation that early polls may be called in October, based on comments by PKR’s Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli linking it to the Negri Sembilan political crisis.
“Rafizi said recently that it is as though we are forcing the Prime Minister to call for a general election in October.
“I disagree.
“In my view, any provision or decision made by a state government must follow the law.
“Any dissolution must be in line with the principles of the Constitution.
“We abide by the Constitution.
“If the referee has blown the whistle for us to have an election, then we comply,” he told reporters when met at a book launch at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) yesterday.
Earlier, Dr Wee launched a book titled Engaging a Generation: Voting Intention and Political Participation Among Malaysian Millennials by Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew.
It is the first publication by a TAR UMT graduate to originate from a doctoral thesis completed at the institution.
During a podcast on May 2, Rafizi said the Negri Sembilan political crisis could be a strategy by Umno to force the 16th General Election in October this year.
Dr Wee stressed that the timing of any elections should not be a matter of speculation.
“There’s no issue of when, because from this time onwards, any elections, whether state, federal, or held simultaneously or separately, can be called at any time.
“This is not something we prepare only in response to certain incidents or just because someone says October or November.
“Politics is dynamic. It is not something fixed or set in stone,” he added.
Asked if the government would benefit from calling early elections, Dr Wee said that anyone who calls for an election would certainly consider it if it gave them an advantage.
“Only those in power can request a dissolution and that’s the system in our democracy based on the Westminster system,” he added.
He said the timing of holding elections can vary depending on the circumstances.
“It’s not something new in Malaysia. Sometimes it’s three years and eight months, four years and three months, or even five years and two months.
“It depends on the situation.”
Irrespective of timing, Dr Wee said MCA is prepared to face the people’s mandate any time.
On May 3, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Barisan Nasional is almost certain to go solo in the coming general election but may pursue other political cooperation after the polls.
