Dr M: GTA’s stand on proposed dissolution date only after PM meets Agong

Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) will only reveal its stand on the date for the dissolution of Parliament after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob presents the proposal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said his movement will only make a decision to oppose or support the dissolution date that would pave the way for the 15th general election (GE15) after the proposed date is presented to Istana Negara.

"We feel the GE15 should be held when we are not facing floods or thunderstorms so that all voters are safe and can vote in a conducive environment," said the former prime minister after a programme called Suara Tanah Air today.

Mahathir said he feels the GE15 should be held next year after the monsoon season is over and there are no floods.

Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party supreme council had insisted Parliament should be dissolved as soon as possible for the GE15 to be held this year, in accordance with Article 40 (1) of the Federal Constitution.

Mahathir claimed Umno wants to choose a period that would benefit them and that was the reason for seeking the election to be held by end of this month or the end of November although there is a possibility of floods.

Still awaiting ROS approval

Speaking of GTA’s registration status, Mahathir said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had informed them that the registration process could not be done quickly because more than 30 political parties had submitted their application.

“However, the ROS has informed us that there was no problem in GTA’s application for registration,” he said.

The Langkawi MP added that GTA plans to field 30 percent of youths as candidates in the GE15.

When asked to comment on claims that GTA would cause a split among Malays, Mahathir said the Malays have already been split and GTA was aimed at reuniting the community.

- Bernama

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