I have not discussed the date for GE15 with Umno's 'Top 5': PM

11 Sep 2022 03:59pm

Ismail Sabri spoke at a ceremony in Bera attended by the Chinese and Indian communities. - Bernama pic

BERA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is yet to discuss with Umno’s 'Top Five' on the date of the 15th general elections (GE15).

The five are President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and three vice presidents - Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and the prime minister himself.

He said he will hold a discussion with the 'Top Five' before discussing further with Barisan Nasional component parties - MCA and MIC.

"... then it needs to be brought to the Cabinet because under the Constitution for approval before I go to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to (get approval) to dissolve Parliament.

"That's the procedure that needs to be followed," he said at the 2022 Bera Parliament Chinese and Indian Community Allocation Presentation ceremony, here today.

However, Ismail Sabri reminded BN leadership in Bera to be ready to streamline the machinery including meeting voters in Guai and Kemayan state seats, including DAP stronghold Triang state seat.

"Every day it is getting closer to elections", Ismail Sabri jokingly said.

He hopes to win Bera seat with not a 2,000 majority but a 5,000 or 10,000 majority.

"We have to win in style, we have to win big because the whole of Malaysia is looking at Bera seat. This is the prime minister's seat," he said.

Triang state seat goes to MCA

As for the Triang state seat, he said MCA has been asking for the state seat for a long time.

"Gerakan (contested in Triang state seat) but MCA was not satisfied because a lot of their members are there. In the past, the seat quota was set and at that time Triang was given to Gerakan but they did not win.

"Now this seat (Triang state seat) is given to MCA and MCA has to prove that they can win if they are given the seat. This is a challenge for MCA and we all have to help seize the seat from DAP," he said.

Ismail Sabri also believes GE15 was the best time for MCA to seize the Triang state seat after DAP and PH failed to fulfill their promises during their 22 months in Putrajaya," he said.

At the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented contributions to 68 Chinese and Indian community associations and clubs from around the Bera Parliament.