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KUALA LUMPUR – Both the government and opposition need to make a political compromise to revive the economy, rather than urging for the dissolution of Parliament and for the 15th general election (GE15) to be held as soon as possible, according to analysts.
Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said that right now, both sides should be focusing on doing everything they can to implement all that has been planned for the people.
“There needs to be a clear consensus, in this current context, for the government or opposition to agree with each other and ensure the interests of the people are placed above all others,” he said.
Tawfik, a lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s administrative and political studies department, said GE15 should not be held too soon or too late, as it can also be held after the tabling of the 2023 budget.
“For me, that will be the right time. I think the Election Commission should also be given ample time (for preparations) to conduct GE15,” he said.
The current government’s five-year mandate will expire on July 15, 2023, and GE15 must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament.
Prior to this, several political leaders had been urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call for GE15 soon, but he has been of the opinion that now is not a suitable time as the country is still struggling with various issues, such as the rising cost of living.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Youth Council president Mohd Izzat Afifi Abdul Hamid opined that the current situation was not suitable for GE15 as solving problems faced by the people should be the main focus of all politicians.
“The people want stability to be restored as soon as possible so that the government and entire country can focus on ways to solve the people’s problems, rather than merely discussing politics. So, if we can put it (GE15) on hold for the time being, then that would be the best (way).
“For me personally, I don’t think now is a suitable time for GE15 as stability should be restored as soon as possible by looking at the bigger picture,” he said.
Echoing Izzat’s views, BIMB Securities economist Imran Nurginias said the government should focus on its agenda to help the people as current inflation had caused an increase in the cost of living.
He said there were many things the government should take into account in addressing the people’s problems after the pandemic, and holding GE15 now would only hamper its efforts.
“When we hold a general election and change the government, everything the current government is doing will have no continuity. I think the government has to come up with policies to safeguard the people and implement them properly first before we are ready for an election,” he said.
Apart from that, Imran also opined that GE15, if held soon, would also disrupt the country’s economic recovery process.
He said the country’s economic performance data in the first quarter of this year showed an encouraging recovery rate, evident in how gross domestic product growth showed an increase of 5% compared with -0.5% in the same quarter last year (3.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021).
Private consumption also showed an increase of 5.5% compared with 1.5% in the same quarter last year (1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021), he said.
“If we look at the data, all are showing good numbers. That basically shows confidence in our government now. Having an election now can jeopardise this.
“With an election, there are a lot of uncertainties as we don’t know who will win and what their policies may be,” he added. – Bernama, June 16, 2022