THE general election must be held in the next few months to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

On Facebook today, the BN chairman said the coalition is currently at its strongest and is “very confident” about its chances.

“Umno does not want the opposition to continue its attacks on BN in the months to come should the polls be held next year.”

“Delaying the GE means giving the enemy ammunition to continue attacking us,” he said.

He said the opposition is misleading the public by spinning issues to reflect badly on BN-Umno.

Zahid said now is the time to hold an election as even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has admitted that the opposition was currently split and in disarray.

Dr Mahathir said yesterday that BN-Umno is likely to “win big” if polls are held now.

“Hurry up or Umno and BN will lose the GE. Better to have it now than to regret later,” Zahid said.

Zahid also referred to former Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Ab Rahman’s June interview with The Malaysian Insight, in which the Bersatu member said balloting should have been held by now to replace a government that does not have the people’s mandate.

This, however, is not Bersatu’s official stand.

Zahid, as well as others mired in graft scandals in Umno, have been pressuring Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve parliament for a snap election.

Pundits say an early election and a BN win will enable Zahid and other Umno members facing trial to get off scot-free. – August 20, 2022.