No need to complicate things, postpone GE15, says KJ

KUALA LUMPUR - The Health Ministry (MOH) will evaluate for the next few months to determine the appropriate time to hold the 15th General Election (GE15).

Its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said his ministry will monitor the implications and the effect of the government's decision to reopen the country's borders on April 1.

“The country’s borders are set to open on April 1 and we want to see the impact as we expect this opening to be made safely and without pressuring the public health system.

“What we don’t know is the existence of new variants that may emerge, this is something we are still monitoring because we know that Omicron has its sub-units.

"So I will observe after April 1 when there will be more relaxation such as tarawih prayers (without social distancing), Aidilfitri celebrations to see whether the cases will be on a rise or not," he said during a press conference at Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre here today.

Khairy also welcomed the suggestion by Umno President, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the date of GE15 to be determined by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob

"The matter needs to be further discussed because, in terms of the timing, the party election is held before the end of this year. The general election, as mentioned by Zahid, was handed over to the Prime Minister to decide because of the constitutional power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must also be taken into account.

"The situation is still dynamic. I have already mentioned that as the Health Minister, we should postpone the general election until the public health situation is stable.

"The president is right even though he said in terms of Umno’s grassroots who demand the general election be held early, it is up to the Prime Minister to consider the views of the Health Ministry," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked if he would contest for any position in the next election, the Rembau MP stressed that it was still too early to decide on the matter.

"I feel it is too early to talk about what position to run for, the important thing today is that we are all relieved because efforts are taken to mobilize towards harmony,'' he said