THE Umno top leadership is pressuring the prime minister for snap polls because it is getting desperate, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

He said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that an early election was necessary as the opposition was getting stronger and could win.

“I enjoyed reading Zahid’s statement. It means they are not very strong.

“We have also received reports that people’s trust in BN is deteriorating, not to mention the reason that (the Umno leaders) are insisting on an early election is to regain power to save certain parties from court punishment,” said the Bersatu chairman.

He added that PN was also ready should Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob cave to Umno pressure to dissolve parliament.

“In any case, we are ready to face the election anytime. We have entered the last year of the election term.

“So if the prime minister should go tomorrow to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to ask for permission to dissolve parliament, we are ready to enter the arena,” said Muhyiddin at the PN convention in Serdang in conjunction with the second anniversary of the coalition.

Muhyiddin said he is confident voters would not allow BN to return to power.

“I don’t think Malaysians will let this happen. So whether (the election is) this year or next year, it doesn’t matter to us.

“Our principle is to oppose evil, choose integrity and continue to care for the people because that is our purpose for being in PN.”

He reminded Ismail of an agreement to determine the election date together.

“PN and the prime minister have signed an agreement that if the prime minister must discuss with us the date of the election because we are part of the government.

“I don’t know if the prime minister still remembers the agreement.” – August 27, 2022.