Zahid To Address Johor Mb Snap Polls Issues Tomorrow

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Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will address the controversy surrounding the appointment of Onn Hafiz Ghazi as the new Johor menteri besar at the Umno annual general assembly tomorrow.
He said he will also respond to those within the party who pushed back against the calling of a snap general election.
"I will answer both questions tomorrow," he told a press conference after visiting the annual assemblies of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings.
He was asked to respond on both issues, which are expected to be discussed in the assembly tomorrow.
Zahid is expected to deliver a keynote address on Friday and he will be concluding the debate by the delegates on Saturday.
It was reported that Umno grassroots appeared to be pushing back after a "higher power" was said to have disrupted Johor party chief Hasni Mohammad's return as menteri besar.
Reports have emerged that 38 out of 40 BN assemblypersons in Johor submitted statutory declarations (SDs) supporting Hasni as the sole candidate for menteri besar.
The SDs were submitted by Zahid to the Johor palace on March 14.
Sources said the "higher power" was in favour of Onn Hafiz to be menteri besar instead.
Supreme council meeting
Meanwhile, Zahid said the party’s supreme council is slated to meet tonight.
“This is a regular meeting which is usually held on the eve of the party's annual general assembly where a briefing will be given by the chairperson.
“The motions tabled by the supreme council are to debate the policy speech of the president.
“We will examine the motions tonight and we will pass the motions with or without amendments,” he said.
Umno general assembly 2022Supreme council member Puad Zarkashi reportedly said that, during the assembly, a motion will be raised on dissolving Parliament.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has come under pressure to call for a snap general election after the party won a landslide majority in the recently concluded state elections of Malacca and Johor.
Umno's faction aligned to Zahid has advocated for snap polls citing political stability.
However, it is not in Ismail Sabri's interest to hold early polls as he may not be reappointed as the prime minister. He has pushed back against calls for an early election, stating it is only favoured by “a small group”.
The Umno vice-president also opened the door to extending the MOU with the opposition to prolong the life span of his fragile government.
Zahid slammed the proposal to extend the MOU. He could also use this week's Umno general assembly to force Ismail Sabri's hand.
However, opposition is expected from those aligned with Ismail Sabri. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, for example, has discouraged an early general election, citing the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini

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