GEORGE TOWN: Although it’s already September, there is still time to hold the 15th General Election (GE15) this year, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
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The prime minister said there was still a window to call for the GE15 this year but it would all depend on Umno’s top five.
“Every decision will be made by the Umno top five,” he said.
The top five refers to party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and the three vice-presidents – Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Ismail Sabri himself.
The meeting of the top five would be held as soon as possible, he said, after launching the World Congress on Innovation and Technology 2022 (WCIT 2022) at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre here in Bayan Lepas yesterday.
Asked if it would be held before, or after, the tabling of Budget 2023 on Oct 7, he replied: “It is possible it (the meeting) may be earlier.”
Mohamad had said earlier that Ismail Sabri has indicated that GE15 would be held this year.
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It is generally believed the elections would not be held late in the year as the monsoon period, which often brings floods to the East Coast, starts in December. The yearend school holidays are slated to be from Dec 9 to 31.
On Budget 2023, Ismail Sabri remained coy about who would table it, saying: “Wait until Oct 7.”
On former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s health condition, the Prime Minister said he had contacted the Health Ministry.
“Whatever he needs, we will try to accommodate,” he said.
Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had told the High Court yesterday that his client has been warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) since Monday and could be referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Najib’s 1MDB trial for the misappropriation of RM2.28bil of 1MDB funds was scheduled to be heard from Monday to tomorrow but has now been vacated.– The Star