Scramble to stop snap polls won’t work, says source

Umno members have ‘very high’ expectations that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will seek a dissolution of Parliament.

(FMT) – Last-ditch efforts to prevent the next general election (GE15) from being called this year are unlikely to succeed, says a high-level Umno source.

These efforts, among others, include letters from Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as confirmed by Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin.

This is on top of growing calls from Pakatan Harapan and PN leaders, as well as civil society organisations asking for GE15 to be held at a later date, citing the monsoon season, the economic situation, the effects of the pandemic and year-end festivities.

“There are ministers who are seeking audiences with the palace in a bid to prevent the polls from happening this year.

But the source said Ismail, who will be granted an audience by the King this evening for a pre-Cabinet meeting briefing, will not budge.

“Umno members have very high expectations that Ismail will seek a dissolution of Parliament so that we can have GE15 this year.

“I don’t believe that Ismail will want to let them down.”

The source said this was especially the case after Tuesday’s Umno gathering which was attended by Umno’s top brass and leaders from all 191 divisions.

Following that gathering, party sources told FMT that its top five leaders, who include Ismail, have already agreed on a date for GE15.

Umno has previously confirmed that it wants GE15 to be held this year.