Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should not delay holding the general election any longer under the guise of emergency or Covid-19 pandemic, said Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said that the understanding between Umno and Bersatu in forming the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in March last year was that polls would be called in by March this year.

“We agreed to this as we wanted the general election to be held to return the mandate to the people,” he said during his policy speech during the Umno annual general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

“However, the election is still not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Bagan Datuk MP added.

He said Umno also agreed that the prime minister’s post be given to a party leader with the smallest number of MPs, referring to Muhyiddin and Bersatu.

“This was with  the condition that the Parliament must be dissolved in January 2021 and the general election must be held no later than the first quarter of 2021, or in March,” he said, adding pressure on the Muhyiddin government to call for a snap poll soon.

Earlier, Zahid also reaffirmed the party’s stand of cutting off ties with Bersatu for GE15. He also said the party would not work with Anwar Ibrahim or DAP in the next general election.

He added that Umno remained committed to contesting alone in GE15 by using the Barisan Nasional (BN) symbol.

He said Umno rejected cooperation with Bersatu because the splinter party was dishonest and had political tactics up its sleeves.

He also said Umno had initially supported the formation of the PN government for the sake of the people.

“Umno has never and will not support a political coalition in PN.

“This decision is not only from the Umno Supreme Council, but also from the voices of the grassroots who are not happy with Bersatu’s political behaviour.

“They have malicious intentions to eliminate and replace Umno,” he said.

Muhyiddin had announced a state of emergency from January 12 until August 1 to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

During this period he had said that the Parliament would not be sitting and there would not be any elections.

He also said that he would call for an election as soon as the nation has overcome the pandemic. – March 28, 2021.