THERE is still time to hold the general election this year, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He said the decision on the polls also depended on Umno’s top five – party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Mohamad Hasan and vice-presidents Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Mahdzir Khalid and himself.

“Yes, but it all depends on the top five,” he told reporters after an event in Penang today.

On Budget 2023, which will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 7, Ismail remained coy over speculation, saying “wait and see”.

On Sunday, at an event in his constituency Bera, Ismail said he had yet to discuss with Umno’s top five on the date for the general election.

He said only after discussing the matter with them would he talk to the other component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN) – MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.

“... then it has to be tabled to the cabinet because under the Federal Constitution, I must get the cabinet’s approval before I go to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to get His Majesty’s consent for parliament to be dissolved,” he said.

“That’s the procedure that needs to be observed.”

However, Ismail told BN leaders in the Bera parliamentary constituency to be ready with their election machinery and to meet with voters to maintain the coalition’s victory in Bera and the Guai and Kemayan state constituencies as well as recapture the Triang state seat.

Although the date for the next general election is still unknown, it is getting closer, he said, referring to a statement by Mohamad, who expects the polls to be held before the end of the year. – September 13, 2022.