THE country’s disaster management teams have been directed to be prepared for a general election during the monsoon, Mastura Mohd Yazid told Dewan Rakyat today.

The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) said she attended a meeting with the Special Task Force on Preparations for Northeast Monsoon 2022/23 on Monday, chaired by the chief secretary to the government, to discuss the possibility of the general election being held during the monsoon season.

“This task force will look at the steps that need to be taken (if the general election is called during monsoon season),” the Kuala Kangsar MP told parliament today.

Mastura was responding to Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka-PH), who asked if it is appropriate to hold the polls during the year-end flood season.

Based on past records, Mastura said, Malaysia had held a federal election and also state elections during the year-end flood-prone season.

“A general election was held in November in 1999, and most recently the Sarawak elections were held in December last year,” she said.

In 1999, the federal polls were held on November 29, while last year’s Sarawak elections were held on December 18.

Despite that, Mastura said any decision on the upcoming elections will be carefully considered by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“The welfare of the 33 million Malaysians is always a priority for the government and the prime minister.

“The government will of course take into account the views and information from all relevant agencies such as the Meteorological Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department, National Disaster Management Agency, Civil Defence Force, and Election Commission before making any decision.

Earlier today, it was reported that the Agong was briefed on the year-end flood situation.

The king attended a briefing by Environment and Water Ministry chief secretary Zaini Ujang and Meteorological Department director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah at the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.

The briefing comes amid mounting speculation that Ismail will be meeting the king to discuss the dissolution of parliament.

Ismail is scheduled to meet the king later today.

Umno leaders have been pushing Ismail to dissolve parliament to make way for the general election this year.

Opposition parties have however rejected Umno’s move to call for snap polls, citing dangers during the monsoon season. – October 6, 2022.