PARLIAMENT will only be dissolved to make way for the general elections when the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is ready, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

Despite facing pressure from Umno leadership to hold GE15 soon, the prime minister who is also Umno vice-president said he would ensure that discussions are held with the BN leadership in determining the date for the general election.

“When we are ready, I will not hesitate to dissolve Parliament, as agreed by the Umno General Assembly, I will discuss with the top 5 (leaders), and the Umno supreme council.

“We will also discuss with the BN leadership in setting the date for GE15,” said Ismail Sabri, when speaking in conjunction with the BN Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTC), today.

The convention was held in conjunction with the 48th anniversary of the coalition.

Ismail Sabri, the MP for Bera, said BN should always strive to achieve a first-class work culture, to work as a team which is disciplined and loyal to the party.

“I, as prime minister, will ensure policies that benefit the people.

“Indeed, our pledge today is to win GE15 with a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat to enable us to continue the agenda of helping the people and the country. God willing,” said Ismail Sabri.

He added that a strong BN government would create political stability in the country, and thus contribute to the economic prosperity of the Southeast Asian region.

Ismail Sabri in an interview with a Japanese newspaper published yesterday gave the impression that GE15 would not happen in the near future.

He said the country was now facing the issue of rising cost of living and food prices.

The government’s mandate will only expire in July 2023 but Umno leadership has demanded that the Bera MP immediately call for GE15. – June 1, 2022.