WITH just 38 MPs, Umno should not be making demands for elections to be held this year, Anwar Ibrahim said today. 

The opposition leader said the decision on when to call for the dissolution of parliament is Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s to make, and urged him to act wisely in deciding the matter.

“How many MPs does Umno have? Only 38. As the minority, (a party with) 38 MPs must not be pushing others to accept the decision (for immediate dissolution). 

“Ismail has the power and if he has the strength to do so, he must act in a wise manner,” the Port Dickson MP and PKR president said after a forum organised by Institute Darul Ehsan in Subang. 

On Friday night, Umno Supreme Council members agreed to hold the general election this year despite the country facing the monsoon season.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said Ismail, who is Umno vice-president, will soon meet the Agong to present His Majesty with a suitable date. 

The Pontian MP said the election has to be held this year as the country needs a stable government.

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin today said any decision to dissolve parliament to pave the way for a general election must take into account the views of cabinet members. 

He said Umno had not heeded the provision in the Federal Constitution in calling for parliament to be dissolved and polls to be held soon. 

He said although Ismail has the power to advise the Agong on the matter, he had to seek his cabinet members’ views first before going to the palace. 

“What is important is that the prime minister can advise the king to dissolve parliament after discussing the matter in the cabinet,” he was quoted as saying in news reports today. 

Hamzah, who is also home minister, said the present government was not led by any dominant party and any decision to dissolve parliament must be done after consulting all the parties in the government.

“People say there’s no need (for cabinet discussions) as it wasn’t done on previous occasions. But that was when Barisan Nasional was dominant and the only party in government. Now, there are many different parties in government,” he was quoted as saying by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian. – October 2, 2022.