UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stands to gain most from a snap election and that is why he is pressuring the prime minister to dissolve parliament, P. Ramasamy said today.

“Zahid is vigorously pushing the agenda for an early GE15 to save his own neck. Najib (Razak) is already convicted; nothing further can be done (for his release) except for a royal pardon,” the Penang deputy chief minister in a statement today.

He said there are corruption cases pending against the Umno president which he hoped to avoid.

“Zahid thinks that if GE15 is held this year, the chances of Barisan Nasional winning national power is high given the weakness of the opposition, Pakatan Harapan.

“Thus, if Umno leads BN to a victory, then corruption cases against him and others will be removed by virtue of political power.

“Najib may get a royal pardon for the conviction in the SRC International case while other cases will be cast aside,” he said.

The DAP leader said this was certain quarters in Umno were alleged to have threatened to to sack Ismail from the party if he doesn’t call elections soon.

“Zahid may think that all the Umno MPs are with him but he is wrong.

“There are sections who are sympathetic to Ismail. They think that although he is not aggressive, he is not tainted by corruption.

“It is far better to have him as the prime minister than those leaders who are heavily tainted and smeared by corruption.

“I think Zahid’s threats are just a one big bluff,” said Ramasamy.

Zahid is on trial for criminal breach of trust, bribery, and money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi. 

Speculation of early polls gained more ground after the cabinet yesterday decided that the tabling of  Budget 2023 in parliament, scheduled for October 28, will now be moved forward to October 7.

Barisan Nasional officials have been reported to say that parliament could be dissolved after the event.

This follows weeks of pressure from Umno for the prime minister to call an early election. – August 27, 2022.