UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is not concerned about the safety and well-being of the public as he is pushing for the general election to be held during the flood season, Rafizi Ramli said. 

Citing Zahid’s ongoing court trial, the PKR deputy president said all the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman wants is to only save himself and his political career by calling for polls during the flood-prone year end. 

“He (Zahid) must have thought that his court case would end somewhere late November or early December. 

“So, (he probably thought) elections must be held as soon as possible (so he can be saved),” Rafizi said during the Ayuh Malaysia rally in his former constituency of Pandan last night.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he had been granted an audience with the Agong for tomorrow. He, however, refused to confirm whether he would present a date for the dissolution of parliament. 

This came after Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party agreed for the polls to be held this year, and that the prime minister will present the proposed date of the dissolution of parliament to the king in line with Article 40(1) of the Federal Constitution. 

Yesterday, Zahid, who is Bagan Datoh MP, reiterated his calls for the polls to be held this year, but insisted it should be held before the flood season. 

The Meteorological Department had warned that Malaysia would experience the monsoon season in November.

Rafizi warned Zahid and Umno to be ready to face the wrath of the public if an election is held at year-end, at a time when people from most states take safety measures ahead of floods. 

Rafizi also pointed out that most flood-prone states make up Malay-majority constituencies. 

He said that the current rise in living costs and inflation could also result in people rejecting BN. 

“Zahid and Umno are arrogant for insisting to hold GE15 during the rainy season, during disaster times, during a time where prices of goods are rising, when the economy is depressing and when the currency performance is at the lowest in history. 

“Why? Because they are convinced the Malays are stupid. They feel no matter what, the Malays especially will love Umno and will vote for them. 

“Actually, what Dr Mahathir Mohamad said is true – ‘Malays forget easily’.

“Only difference is that Malays who easily forget are those in Umno, while those who are smart are not with Umno,’ said Rafizi, adding that the people punished Umno in 2018 by making BN lose federal power after ruling the country for more than six decades.

“We have seen from the past general election and now heading to the other (with several by-elections in between) how the people have punished the parties. 

“They don’t make noise but they teach political parties a lesson when voting. Umno, PAS, Bersatu have suffered, even PKR was punished. 

“DAP, Amanah also have suffered and recently we saw Pejuang losing their deposit in all (state) seats it contested in the Johor state elections,” he said. 

Rafizi is confident Umno and BN would face backlash from the people for pushing for a general election during trying times, and challenged them to proceed and face the consequences. 

“It (Umno) can have all the plans it wants but I’m sure if it calls for an election during such a challenging time, then it will face the consequences,” he added. 

Last year, eight of 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia were hit by floods in December as the country saw its heaviest rainfall in 100 years, according to officials. – October 5, 2022.