Umno veep: GE15 will not be held during monsoon season

The 15th general election (GE15) is highly unlikely to be held during the monsoon season this year, an Umno vice-president has said.

According to Mahdzir Khalid, while the election date was among the topics discussed in the Cabinet meeting yesterday, the main issue deliberated on was preparations to face the floods.

"Let the prime minister make the announcement as he has the power to call for a general election.

"We understand the flood (risks), and the prime minister will also take into account the advice from the Malaysian Meteorological Department," Mahdzir (above), who is also Rural Development Minister, told reporters after attending a function in Putrajaya last night.

Mahdzir further urged the people to not believe all the claims made on social media regarding the floods.

"Some are claiming floods will happen in October while others are saying it will happen in November and December.

“It is better to get correct information from the relevant authorities," he was quoted saying.

The GE15 date has been the most important question everyone has been asking lately.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been consistently pushing for an early election, saying that the BN coalition, of which he is the chairperson, was willing to "wade through floods to campaign."

Critics, however, have dubbed Zahid's insistence as a “desperate move” to save himself from multiple charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and graft, which he is currently facing trial for.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also an Umno vice-president, had previously said that he would hold a meeting among Umno’s top five leaders to discuss the date for GE15.

The top five are Zahid, deputy president Mohamad Hasan and vice-presidents Mahdzir, Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Ismail Sabri himself.

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