Zahid pushing early polls for fear of jail, says PAS polls chief

(FMT) – Malaysia will be in ruins if the people choose “one or two power-crazy leaders,” who only want to save their skins, to run the country, PAS election director Sanusi Md Nor said today.

He said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s claim earlier today that PAS is not keen on holding snap polls because they feared losing its existing 18 seats was wrong as the nation had other more important matters to settle.

Sanusi said Zahid, who is now facing trial for corruption, is insisting on an early general election as he is afraid of going to jail.

“His only lifeline to avoid jail is to try and grab power to ensure the court cluster would be saved by the intervention of a new government,” the Kedah menteri besar told FMT.

Sanusi said Zahid had also called for an Umno extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to postpone the party election to keep his party presidency intact as he then would have the final say on the Barisan Nasional candidates for GE15.

“The position is vital because the president signs the nomination letters for BN candidates. Those selected as candidates will be made to pursue the agenda to save him from jail if they form the new federal government,” he said.

Sanusi forecast that PAS, with Perikatan Nasional would win more seats against Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional “as the voters are fed up with the two coalitions”.

Zahid had mocked PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for claiming that only the power-hungry wanted polls to be held soon despite the people facing a multitude of economic problems at the moment.

Hadi said he has repeatedly stated that other matters are more important, such as the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The next general election must be held no later than mid-September 2023 as Parliament’s term expires on July 16 next year.