After Aggressive Push For Ge15 Zahid Implies It May Not Happen Before July 31

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After an aggressive push for snap polls to be held soon, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi indicated that they're not in too much of a rush.
Both Zahid and his deputy Mohamad Hasan have implied that they would wait out the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Putrajaya and Pakatan Harapan - which stipulates that Parliament can't be dissolved before July 31.
Speaking at a press conference after closing the Umno general assembly today, Zahid said that there was a timeline for when Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should call for snap polls, as it has yet to be discussed by the party's top five leaders.
“The top five usually meet not less than every month and a half. However, if there are (important) party issues and issues involving the rakyat, we will act quickly,” he told reporters.
Also present by his side were Mohamad and Ismail Sabri.
Zahid said that it was up to the prime minister’s “wisdom” on the fate of the MOU, and no matter the outcome, including the decision of the cabinet, it would be respected.
“We understand that there are rules (that come with dissolving Parliament), especially listed in the Constitution whereby it is up to the cabinet to make the decision, and later brought to the prime minister.
“And we respect any decision by the cabinet,” he said.
The Umno president justified the party’s call for the election by claiming that it was what the rakyat wanted.
“Umno was merely calling for it based on a multitude of factors,” he said.
However, Zahid did add that while the Malacca and Johor state polls cannot set the benchmark for what’s to come in the general election, Umno’s and BN’s principles give them the confidence needed.
BN had achieved a landslide win in both states, reaching a two-thirds majority in each of the snap polls.
It is noted, however, that BN did not win by popular vote in either of the states, garnering less than 50 percent of total votes.
Mum on Umno strategies
When asked about how many seats they targeted to win in GE15, Zahid said that he could not reveal Umno’s strategies.
The Bagan Datuk MP also remained vague when asked about Umno’s proposed candidate for prime minister, but hinted at the mishap that was Johor’s menteri besar scandal.
“We have our candidates but in Johor, our poster boy was Hasni (Mohammad), but you know...
“I don’t think the poster boy is material for us to promote now… or later... because it is up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to decide.
“But the matter will definitely be discussed among us,” he said.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob and Umno deputy president Mohamad HasanDuring the general assembly closing, Zahid had teased at the possibility of Mohamad becoming the next prime minister.
He said if it was Mohamad's rezeki (gift), it could happen as soon as the next general election.
While speaking at the Umno general assembly, Zahid related that when it was time for Umno to nominate a prime minister candidate after Muhyiddin Yassin resigned, the party decided to put forth only one name - Ismail Sabri.
However, Zahid said he was not jealous that Ismail Sabri - who is his subordinate in Umno - had become prime minister, adding that he had even nominated him.
"I have never been jealous," he said.
After recalling Ismail Sabri's nomination as prime minister, Zahid then turned to address Mohamad who is popularly referred to as Tok Mat.
"Tok Mat, if you want to be prime minister you have to wait," he added. - Mkini

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