KUALA LUMPUR:Co-founder of Parti Ikatan Demokratik (Muda), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, has chided UMNO Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan who said that only graduates with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree can understand the need to hold the 15th General Election (GE15) as soon as possible.

Through an update on his Twitter page, the Muar Member of Parliament cynically said that a PhD is not needed to know the condition of the people who are currently in distress, experiencing hunger and suffering from illnesses.

"Don't just think about power 24/7. Now that you have become the government, take responsibility and take care of the people.

“The COVID crisis is getting worse, and a way has not been found to end the flood crisis.

"Just do the work first," said Syed Saddiq while uploading a cut-out of a news report titled "People with a PhD understand why it is necessary to have a GE as soon as possible".

Citing a report published by Malaysiakini, Ahmad described that only the highly educated can understand the need to hold general elections as soon as possible.

Ahmad said this after watching a news report showing the reaction of a coconut grater who thinks the GE should not be held at this time because the transmission of COVID-19 is still happening.

"(I’m) not sure (the individual) is a registered voter or not. He said the GE cannot be held because of COVID-19.

“But I answered why the GE is necessary because many countries have held it, among them the United States, Singapore and we have also held by-elections (PRK) in Chini, Slim and the Sabah state elections (PRN).

"If he is from UIA (International Islamic University) or has a PhD, I think he can comment more accurately," Ahmad was quoted as saying.

In the report, Ahmad also informed that the increase in COVID-19 cases in Sabah during the State Election (PRN), among others, was due to the influx of islanders without screening.

A few days ago, Ahmad's statement also sparked a debate among UMNO members after he was reported to have said that UMNO did not support Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) because the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government refused to withdraw court cases involving the party leaders.

Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin later described the statement as the thinking of 'banana fritters'.