THE government needs to prioritise the needs of the people first before calling for the next general election, opposition lawmakers said.

MPs believe the country is facing an economic and food crisis that needs to be resolved immediately, instead of jockeying for position at the polls.

They said only a certain group is pushing for the elections to be held soon, the so-called “court cluster”, which includes former prime minister Najib Razak and former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

These men, according to critics and observers, are leading the Umno court cluster, which is pushing for early general elections.

This, they said, is to ride on the party’s resurgence in the hopes of retaking control of Parliament, which critics say will allow them to resolve the charges against them.

However, the lawmakers said as long as the memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked between the government and the opposition stands, all parties need to abide by it.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said there should be no elections this year as the only people who want it are in the court cluster.

He said these people are holding the government and, by extent, democracy hostage.

“They are trying to take the victories in Malacca and Johor as a way of trying to draw support for a quick election. 

“This is so that hopefully Umno can win and they (the cluster) can be pardoned or find a way out of their court cases. That’s the agenda here,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Santiago said it is not the time for an election because there are elements within Umno, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) that feel more time needs to be devoted to ensuring quality of life for the nation’s citizens.

He said the country’s economic situation, high cost of living and food crisis have hit the rakyat hard.

“There shouldn’t be any reason why an election must happen now when the country is facing a crisis that needs to be resolved.

“People are facing hunger issues… not enough food on the table, and this has become a major issue.”

The DAP lawmaker said people are finding it difficult to earn a living.

“Jobs are also not easy to find and, while there are vacancies, wages are low.”

He added that the government should be given complete leeway of completing the full term of five years.

“The time to call for an early election makes no sense. There is no urgency for it. Push it for another year.”

The current government’s term ends in July next year.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had said that PH did not want to be involved in Umno’s call for elections this year.

He said he would relay this to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the focus should be on improving the people’s wellbeing rather than going to the polls.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said the situation faced by the rakyat is quite terrible at the moment, so the focus should be on helping them out.

“In my constituency, we have been providing subsidised food baskets. We see that a lot of people need that kind of assistance,” Fahmi said.

“Those who want the election to happen now have an ulterior motive. It is clear to everyone (who they are), so why should anyone concede to those people?”

The PKR communications chief said the MOU explicitly stated that PH will not pass a motion of no confidence in the government. 

“If there is a motion, PH won’t participate in anything that will destabilise the government. As long as the MOU is there, we have to abide by what is agreed,” he said.

“As far as PH is concerned, we are fulfilling our part of the agreement.”

Fahmi said there are some Umno leaders that are creating the perception that the MOU should end on July 31.

“What they don’t know is that the MOU only ends when Parliament is dissolved.

“As long as the MOU stands, all parties need to abide by it, so PH is taking this position.”

The MOU on Transformation and Political Stability between the government and PH was signed on September 13.

Fahmi also said not having an election now has nothing to do with whether PH is unprepared or confident it can do better next year.

“We have been through a lot these past three years. People are trying to get back on their feet. To earn a living and resolve debts they have acquired.

“I believe a general election should be held any time after Chinese New Year, next year. Hopefully the economy and businesses pick up by then,” Fahmi said.

He added that, while the government is focusing on the economy, it is for the people to judge whether it is doing a good enough job.

“All PH MPs are focused on helping people in their constituencies.”

Snap election not advantageous to PH

Meanwhile, University of Tasmania political analyst James Chin said the reason the opposition doesn’t want to go to the polls now could be because of BN’s momentum in the Sarawak, Johor and Malacca polls.

“If they go for a general election now, it is obvious the opposition will do badly and that is why it wants a delay.”

He said the opposition is also hoping that the corruption trials of Zahid, and Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor are completed this year.

“If they are found guilty, then it could hit Umno should an election be held next year, so, that’s another reason for the delay.

“If elections are called in September or October, then Umno will do well as people are fed up with the opposition.”

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said that it does not matter when elections will be held because it is likely that it will not bring about a huge disparity politically.

“Earlier, the opposition was worried that Umno would carry on its winning momentum in Malacca and Johor, and score big in an early general election.

“During the pandemic, after the Sheraton Move, they were still obsessed with statutory declarations and no-confidence votes, but, by the time the Malacca and Johor elections came, the opposition realised that having a general election now is not to its advantage.” – July 19, 2022.