No decision yet on PM candidate for GE15, says Zahid

Focus

11 Mar 2022 01:57pm

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the decision on the PM candidate will be made later

JOHOR BAHRU: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said BN is yet to decide on the "poster boy" for GE15, amid speculation that polls may be called by July this year.

"We have a musyawarah (discussion) system and togetherness (in BN). We would sit together to discuss," he said told reporters.

Zahid, the Bagan Datuk MP said it was the eve of Johor polls and not the right time to announce BN's poster boy.

"We will announce once the party makes a decision (we will announce it later).

During the press conference, he was asked if Ismail Sabri will be BN's face in GE15. This comes as they have been calls for snap polls as soon as possible.

But those supporting Ismail Sabri had called on party polls to be held first, as speculations becomes rife over ousting Zahid.

Opposition has lost its twinkle

Zahid also asked the rakyat not give opposition space to "rearrange themselves" as the additional time would give them space to boost diminishing trusts and increase "feel-good factor".

He said the opposition want GE15 to be held next year.

"That means they face internal conflict, they are not confident of winning (if elections are held early).

"They fear of being rejected by the rakyat," he further told reporters.

Due to that, he said the opposition should not be given the time and space to rearrange themselves.

"The taste within the rakyat has changed (since GE14). They want BN," he said.

However, Zahid said BN could have a new mandate at national level to finally form stabile government.

Yesterday, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke Siew Cook had called on the prime minister to extend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between PH and the federal government last September.

He urged Ismail Sabri Yaakob to put GE15 on hold due to Covid-19 pandemic.

He suggested for the extension to be called "MoU 2.0" and extended beyond July 31. Like had further said the MoU 2.0 could look at tackling Constituency Development Fund Act which ensures all MPs get equal allocations.