KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has brushed off calls to dissolve Parliament to pave the way for a general election, while urging the opposition to “give it time” as the current Federal Government still holds the mandate to govern.
The Prime Minister said the public wanted stability and economic growth over endless politicking.
“So give it time. We have a mandate until the next elections (to) battle (it out).
“I believe the people also want stability. The people want the economy to grow, and they do not want us to only engage in politics all the time,” he said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Anwar was responding to Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid, who had asked if the Prime Minister intended to dissolve Parliament and return the mandate to the electorate.
In his question, Rosol had cited concerns over economic performance, regional geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and overall domestic political and economic stability as justifications for an early election.
The recent Johor election and the upcoming Negri Sembilan polls have fuelled talk of an early general election.
On the possible abolishment of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), which was raised during the Johor election, Anwar said he would discuss the matter with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
“I will try to discuss PTPTN amicably as the Johor Mentri Besar (Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi) is also part of the unity government at the federal level. So we want to discuss this properly.
“I will also discuss this with the Higher Education Minister,” he said.
Anwar was responding to Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, who said that Barisan Nasional had used the issue to discredit Pakatan Harapan during the Johor election.
Pakatan Rakyat, the predecessor of Pakatan Harapan, had pledged to abolish PTPTN and introduce free higher education as part of its election manifesto in 2013.
