GE15: Various factors need careful consideration before dissolving Parliament - PM

PUTRAJAYA: Every day everywhere, the big question of when the 15th General Election (GE15) will be called continues to be the main topic of discussion among all segments of society in Malaysia.

Whether it will be held this year or next year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it requires a more detailed and careful consideration before any decision to dissolve the Parliament can be made.

He said this was because the government's priority now is on solving the numerous issues troubling the people and the country, with the latest relating to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the global economic slowdown projected next year.

Ismail Sabri opined that the GE15 can be called if the two factors - current issues and economic uncertainty - are first and foremost, tackled and stabilised.

"We are concerned with the projected economic uncertainty next year, but the longer we wait, the more difficult the situation will be, so maybe we can have it (GE15) this year.

"But if we say this year, there are just too many ongoing issues that need to be solved. That's why it is quite a tough decision to make," he said in 'An Interview with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob', themed Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia at Seri Perdana here.

Today marked Ismail Sabri's one-year anniversary in leading Keluarga Malaysia's government. He took over the Prime Minister's office following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug 16, 2021, after failing to command the majority support of the Members of Parliament.

Bombarded with questions that revolve around politics and GE15 during the 45-minute interview, Ismail Sabri concurred with the fact that the mandate must be returned to the people to elect a new government.

"Yes, the people have to be given the chance to elect a new government as it has changed three times (in this parliamentary term). Some of them acknowledged it, some don't, so it's better to return the mandate to the people. Yet, we have so many issues that need to be resolved...in terms of economy, income, and employment.

"Even though, since January until now, we have provided 400,000 jobs to the people, the minimum wage of RM1,500 is still being disputed and may need to be increased because certain quarters said it's inadequate. This is among the many issues that we need to address," he said, clearly showing concern for the people's wellbeing.

The five-year mandate of the current government will expire in July 2023 and the GE15 must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament.

Ismail Sabri is the third prime minister appointed in this parliamentary term. After the GE14 in May 2018, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad become the country's 7th Prime Minister for 22 months under the Pakatan Harapan government before it lost power in February 2020 and he was replaced by Muhyiddin with his Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia witnessed four state elections held after the GE14, namely in Sabah, Melaka, Sarawak and Johor, and Ismail Sabri's political coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) successfully won back the states of Melaka and Johor, each with a two-thirds majority, and formed a new state government in Sabah with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

Ismail Sabri, who is UMNO Member of Parliament for Bera, said BN's success in the state election in Melaka in November last year and in Johor last March, cannot be used as a guarantee of success for the coalition in GE15.

In Johor, he said BN's landslide victory was probably made possible by the low voter turnout due to COVID-19 concerns, but the situation may differ during the GE15.

"Some people may think that election at the state level is not so important.

"But for the federal level, it's totally different. Amid their COVID concerns, the voters will come out and vote to make sure that their parties can form a new government. That's why I think BN's success in Melaka and Johor cannot be used as a guarantee of success or support for us," he said.

On UMNO Top Five's suggestion to have the GE15 held this year, the Prime Minister said that all the five leaders including himself can make any suggestion, but the power to dissolve the Parliament belongs to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"The Top Five can discuss anything...if I bring their suggestion to the Cabinet and the Cabinet agrees and even sets a date for it, and then I bring it to Agong and he doesn't agree, it will not happen," he said.

UMNO Top Five refers to president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the three vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Ismail Sabri himself.

Unlike before, Ismail Sabri said the dissolution of Parliament needs to be discussed by the Cabinet as BN is not the single coalition that formed the current government.

The federal government led by Ismail Sabri, which was formed in August 2021, consists of three coalitions - BN, PN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA