PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should not give in to pressure to set the date for the next general election based on the “threats” of a small group who is embroiled in court cases, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

“The prime minister cannot set a date for GE15 based on the threats made by a small group (with interests in) closing their court cases,” he was quoted as telling reporters at Universiti Malaya today.

The Port Dickson MP said this when asked if the polls were around the corner as Budget 2023 has been brought forward to early next month.

However, the Pakatan Harapan chairman did not rule out the possibility of an early general election, saying that the coalition’s machinery is gearing up for it.

“There is definitely a possibility. Pakatan Harapan is expecting GE15 to take place either around the end of October or early November,” he said, referring to the next general election.

Ismail has been under pressure from a small group of leaders, dubbed the court cluster, to call a snap election.

Among those in the court cluster are Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamid, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Bung Moktar Radin, Umno Supreme Council member Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Johor Baru division chief Shahrir Samad.

The push has become intense following the incarceration of former prime minister Najib Razak at Kajang Prison on August 23 after a five-member bench at the Federal Court upheld his conviction, 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. – September 11, 2022.