UMNO’S move for a quick general election gathers pace with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak slated to meet Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob later this evening.

According to various party sources, the party president and his predecessor are expected to meet Ismail, who is also the party vice-president, at the prime minister’s official residence in Seri Perdana, Putrajaya.

The agenda for the private meeting was kept confidential but this morning Zahid chaired an emergency meeting of Umno division leaders at the party headquarters in World Trade Centre (WTC) where they unanimously agreed to urge the PM to call for the next general election as soon as possible.

Umno Sungai Besar division chief Jamal Md Yunos earlier told reporters that the morning meeting discussed views and opinions with regard to the national polls.

“The decision we made unanimously, by all the Umno division leaders (who attended), is that we want the general election to be held as soon as possible.

“This decision will be conveyed to the prime minister by the party’s secretary-general,” he said.

According to Jamal, a total of 158 division heads including Umno leaders attended the emergency meeting.

Ismail was not present at the meeting.

Jamal also denied that the meeting discussed Najib’s final appeal at Federal Court tomorrow.

However, The Malaysian Insight was told that the meeting would resume later this evening.

At press time, Umno divisional leaders were seen at WTC. – August 22, 2022.