‘Early GE? Don’t Make a Fuss, PMX Himself Floated the Idea’ — UMNO Leader

KUALA LUMPUR: An UMNO division chief has hit back at critics questioning the party’s call for an early general election (GE), saying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself had previously expressed willingness to hold the election earlier than scheduled.

UMNO Batu division chief Gulam Muszaffar said UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for an early GE was merely aimed at securing a fresh mandate from the people and should not be treated as controversial.

He said many had apparently forgotten that Anwar had himself spoken about the possibility of an early election during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) convention in May.

“Why make such a big fuss when our president has expressed his desire for an earlier general election to seek a fresh mandate from the people?

“Before Ahmad Zahid made that statement, Anwar himself had already expressed his willingness to have an early GE,” he said in a statement today.

Gulam also questioned whether PH had now become reluctant to consider an early dissolution of Parliament following what he described as PH’s heavy defeats in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

He accused PH of adopting a “hot and cold” approach and practising political “flip-flopping” over the issue.

“Now, after PH suffered heavy defeats in the two state elections, it appears to be afraid of its own shadow and reluctant to dissolve Parliament early,” he said.

Gulam also took aim at tensions within the unity government, particularly open attacks against Ahmad Zahid by DAP’s Jelutong MP RSN Rayer over the 47 corruption charges case, as well as disagreements involving the Finance Ministry and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW).

He also cited differences over contractor payments, allocations channelled through KKDW and cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Negeri Sembilan.

“If UMNO’s deputy prime minister is no longer acceptable, then sack him.

“The power is in the Prime Minister’s hands. Do it,” he said.

Gulam further accused PH of “throwing stones while hiding its hands”, claiming that the coalition was using its leaders to attack UMNO figures while simultaneously keeping the door open for negotiations with UMNO and BN ahead of the Melaka state election and the next general election.

“PH should not play both sides — using its ‘attack dogs’ to target UMNO leaders while at the same time harbouring hopes of negotiating cooperation with UMNO and BN in the Melaka state election and the next GE.

“That is shameless and hypocritical,” he said.

His remarks come amid growing political speculation over the timing of the next general election and the future of cooperation between BN and PH under the unity government.