GE15 will not be held this year, Dr M says

KUALA LUMPUR - The implementation of the 15th General Election (GE15) is not expected to be held this year, said Pejuang Tanah Air Chairman Pejuang Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said this was because the party in the current government was seen as not ready, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was not inclined to take the step.

“Personally, I don’t expect the general election to be held this year, but we don’t know as Zahid (UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) wants it to be held this because he’s facing a court case for the crimes he committed.

“But I don’t think the prime minister is interested in having a general election... Because he will lose his post if the general election was held.

“Even if they win, he won’t be the prime minister again. So he’s enjoying being a Prime Minister (and) to stay as long as possible,” he said in a press conference here on Saturday.

Previously, the Langkawi MP had officiated the National Assembly 2022 of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (Berjasa) Party.

Ismail Sabri on August 21 said he was of the view that GE15 could be held if both the issue and the economy could be balanced.

He said the government’s current priority was to resolve various issues of the people and the country including the issue of the littoral combat ship (LCS) project which was not yet known for its impact and the challenges of the global economic slowdown that is forecasted to occur next year.