Dissolution of Parliament is PM's prerogative - Salleh Said

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has the prerogative to decide on the date of the dissolution of Parliament for the coming general election (GE), said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

Salleh said the government instead was now focusing on addressing various issues relating to the rakyat before tabling the 2017 Budget.

"It is Najib's prerogative to decide when he wants to dissolve the parliament...our purpose as the government is not merely to call for elections, but more to focus on serving the people," he told reporters when met after opening the KL Converge! 2016 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here today.

He was commenting in the wake of a report by foreign media that had quoted an Umno division leader from a southern state, who asked not to be identified, as saying that the GE will be held in March next year.

Salleh who is also UMNO treasurer, said if the GE were to be held early, he was confident that the people would be supporting the ruling government.

"We (Barisan Nasional) are confident that the majority of the people are behind us. What they want is stability and continued progress with no interference from outsiders," he said.

On the airing of the video on the entry of Indonesian illegal immigrants to Tawau, Sabah which became viral in the social media, Salleh said if it was true, appropriate action should be taken against the individual responsible.

The video which runs for 11 minutes was recorded by the foreign media to show how easy it was for illegal immigrants from Indonesia to enter Tawau.

Asked on the 'interference' by Wall Street Journal and the New York Times on the issue of funding for Permata, he said the move was an effort to tarnish the good name of the country.

"The foreign media have a specific agenda to destabilise our country," he said. -Bernama