PKR to make public referendum over Zahid's "GE15 during floods" statement

SHAH ALAM - PKR will carry out a public referendum in response to Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that they were wiling to wade through the floods if the 15th General Election is held during the year-end monsoon season.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the party leader's arrogant attitude should not be left without a response from the people.

Rafizi said he himself will work on the poll to give a “lesson” to Zahid, who is also Umno president, and its party members that the people were angered by their selfish attitudes towards regaining power and ignoring preparations for the floods.

“The statement of the Umno president disparages the risks and misery of the people if GE15 is called during the monsoon season shows the separation of him and Umno from the reality of the people’s lives.

"Umno seems to have forgotten the misery that the people had experienced over the past decade due to the floods.

“The two major floods in Sri Muda (last year) and Baling (this year) did not impress the Umno leadership, let alone remind them that the welfare of the people should be prioritised.

“While the focus of the state governments is to help the people, Umno and its leadership are pushing aside the risk of flooding in their madness urging GE15 to be held immediately in search of power," he said in a statement today.

The former Pandan MP added that Zahid's statement was quite different from the tone of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership expressed on Thursday.

He said one of the main contents of the resolution reached in a private PH meeting was for the states administered by them to work on concerted measures to deal with the expected flood disasters, including declaring a “Climate Disaster Emergency” to reduce the disaster to the people.

Yesterday, Zahid reportedly said his party was willing to “squeeze” through the floods to campaign for GE15 if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the dissolution of Parliament later this year, synonymous with the flooding season.