SERDANG - Perikatan Nasional (PN) is fully prepared to face the 15th General Election (GE15) at any time, says Muhyiddin Yassin.
Its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the foundation of a political party was to participate in elections and form a government.
However, he said, according to the agreement signed by him and the current government represented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, PN needed to be informed in advance if the nation’s leader wanted to set the election date.
He said as a party that was a part of the government coalition led by the Bera MP, PN also needed to be involved in the crucial negotiations.
"We know that GE15 will be held next year at the latest, while we are gathering here, Umno on the other side is also gathering.
"From what I heard, they want to urge the Prime Minister (Ismail Sabri) to dissolve Parliament early.
"In any case, we are ready to face elections at any time. Supposedly we are already in the election term.
"So if tomorrow the Prime Minister goes before His Majesty the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to ask for permission to dissolve Parliament, we are ready to enter the arena,” he said at the 2022 PN Convention and the 2nd PN Anniversary celebration at the Serdang Malaysia Agricultural Expo Park (MAEPS).
Muhyiddin who is also the President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) also teased Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who expressed his wish that GE15 should be held this year, not next year.
"I read the statement by the Umno President and BN Chairman (Ahmad Zahid).
"He said the election must be held this year, not next year. If you wait until next year, BN may lose. I enjoyed reading this statement because it clearly shows that they are not in a strong position,” he said.
Commenting further, Muhyiddin also claimed that the people’s trust in BN had declined, not to mention the purpose of insisting that the election to be held early was simply to regain the power to save certain parties from court punishment.
"I don’t think Malaysians will let this happen so whether the election is this year or next year, it doesn’t matter to us.
"Our principle is to oppose, choose integrity and continue to care for the people,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) was confident PN and parties headed the same direction with the coalition would achieve victory in GE15.
Its president Yong Teck Lee said he gained information from Muhyiddin that there would be 25 seats in Sabah and said they would fight for the majority 25 seats.
"This is because in Sabah there are still parties supporting Muhyiddin as the prime minister as the federal government but not as PN’s member. That’s what makes Sabah unique.
"Moreover, we can see the ministers compiled with their promises and the former Prime Minister also obliged, which is why SAPP requested to be a part of PN,” he said.
Yong added that when Muhyiddin’s cabinet was developed, there was a particular ministry that focused on Sabah and Sarawak.
Hence, this eventually gave them the confidence that the agenda to apply and continue to be the priority of the PN’s government.
"Plus within this week we also heard the discussion has been made which is to take back... to complete the economy that PN promised to Sabah.
"This is also the reason why the general election in Sabah in Sept 2020 previously the PN government became Sabah’s chief minister as rakyat trusted PN’s leadership would realise their promises,” he added.