Even Umno split over snap polls, PH men tell Zahid

GEORGE TOWN, 10 June – Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has drawn scorn from DAP and Amanah for implying that the opposition is at fault if snap polls are not held.

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and Amanah central committee member Faiz Fadzil said Umno members in the Cabinet were themselves not warming up to the idea of a quick general election.

Zahid, in a Facebook post yesterday, said members of the opposition appeared to be “buying time” by saying no to snap polls and that they were trying to deceive voters.

Lim told FMT the Umno president appeared to be trying to distract attention from opposing views within his party.

“Umno is split on calling for an election,” he said. “It is easy to blame the opposition. There are Umno MPs and ministers who are also against calling for polls.

“If he wants to practise what he preaches, why not sack those who are against a snap election from the party instead of giving us empty talk.”

He said Zahid, instead of calling for polls, should be telling Umno members in the ruling government to address the rising prices of goods, the shortage of workers and the weakening of the ringgit.

Faiz said Zahid’s argument that fresh polls would result in a stable government was flawed because Barisan Nasional (BN) was responsible for the current problems plaguing the country and unstable policies would be sustained if they were to win.

He alleged that BN had not been good at managing inflation, citing the 4.2% inflation rate in February 2016, which rose to 5.1% in March 2017.

“Fast forward to today, the prime minister does not have an exit strategy for the food shortage crisis and the increase in the prices of goods,” he said. “So what is the relevance of wanting a stable government when the same people are confident they are coming home to roost?”

Faiz also said calling for polls now would be costly when funds could be used to fight inflation.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said Zahid’s comments should not be entertained as he was not in a position to dissolve Parliament.

“We should ignore him,” he said.

He also said the opposition was always ready for a general election, but added that issues such as rising food prices were more pressing.

The current parliament’s term expires in July next year, but following BN’s good showing in Johor and Melaka, BN leaders have been saying the coalition could do well in a snap election.