SHAH ALAM - Simpang Pulai assemblyman Tan Kar Hing has slammed Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) for planning to hold the 15th General Election (GE15) during the monsoon season.
"Only those who are "insane" would support the election to be held during the flood season," he said in a statement, today.
Tan said despite the Malaysian Meteorological Department's (MetMalaysia) forecast that major floods will happen in November, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had suggested for GE15 to be held during the seasonal flood.
The idea, he said was not directly rejected by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, but he had proposed to ask the people instead whether they accepted the idea or upset with it.
"If Umno still want GE15 to be held during the monsoon season, Ismail Sabri and Zahid need to answer whether the government at that time would rather save the lives of the people or the ballot box.
"We also understand that the narrative that Umno-BN is trying to play is that Pakatan Harapan is afraid of losing if the GE is held.
"For me this is not a matter of losing or winning, but a matter of whether we value power or life,” he said.
Tan disclosed that the number of voters as of August 2022 was 21.1 million compared to 14.9 million in 2018.
Hence, with the increasing number of voters, there will certainly be additional officers and team involved and also more polling centres.
He said Umno must face countless questions if the floods really occurred as predicted by MetMalaysia.
"Will the polling stations be used as evacuation centres for flood victims if flood occurs?
"The election personnel who will be appointed are mostly civil servants, at that time, will they be given instructions to "save people's lives or take care of the ballot box?"
"The security personnel on duty during the general election need to take care of the smooth running of the election process or save people's lives and property?,” he said.