Zahid: GE14 will be held within 180 days

(FMT) – Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told BN component parties he is well aware which politicians are working hard for the party as the 14th general election (GE14) nears.

“The GE14 won’t be more than 180 days from now.

“Those who say it will be held after 180 days are not living in reality,” he said at Gerakan’s 46th national delegates’ conference at Gerakan headquarters here.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and other BN component party leaders from Umno, MIC, MCA and MyPPP were present.

Zahid said the exact date for the general election would be announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak when the election machinery is ready.

As the home minister, Zahid said he was aware which politicians had been working hard for the party.

“Who is working hard and who are not working hard, I know.

“I know who is lobbying to be a candidate even though they are lazy. Some were lazy but are now hardworking, I know,” he said.

He praised Gerakan leaders for their hard work and said the party was at its peak before and could experience its glory days again by winning Penang back from DAP.

He said BN would support Gerakan and other component parties as theirs was a marriage built on solid ground.

“Not like some; it is a political marriage. They will divorce when they do not have any chemistry left,” he said referring to Pakatan Harapan.

However, he said BN component parties should not be complacent.

“In any political life cycle, we are tested. In GE13 we were tested. Now GE14 approaches and we must wake up again to make sure BN wins,” he said to the applause of Gerakan members.

He told delegates the economy was recovering and the 2017 federal Budget will look into the plight of rural and urban folks.

He said the budget aims to help farmers, new parents and others, with various measures and allocations.

With proper planning and unity, BN would be able to win more seats, he added.