SERDANG: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has taunted Barisan Nasional (BN) for its repeated calls for the 15th general election (GE15) to be expedited, adding that this proves the coalition is “not that strong”.
Stating that he has received reports of the public’s “deteriorating trust in BN”, Muhyiddin said that he read with great interest a recent statement by Umno president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) that GE15 — which can be held as late as mid-September 2023 — should be held this year.
“(He said) if BN waits until next year, they may lose,” Muhyiddin said in his opening speech at the PN Convention here.
“I enjoyed reading his statement. It means they (BN) are not that strong. In any case, we are ready to face GE15 at any time.”
On Aug 20, Zahid, who is also BN chairman, said that the coalition risks losing the GE15 if it is not held within the next few months.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday played down speculation that the decision to bring the tabling of Budget 2023 forward by three weeks was linked to GE15, which is expected by many to be held this year.
The Umno vice-president pointed out that previous administrations had tabled the annual federal budget as early as September in the past.
Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday confirmed that Budget 2023 will be tabled on Oct 7, three weeks earlier than scheduled, with the start of the next Dewan Rakyat sitting also brought forward to Oct 3 from its originally-scheduled Oct 24.
Touching on Budget 2023, Muhyiddin said it was likely that Parliament will be dissolved the day after it is tabled, that is on Oct 8.
Accept court ruling, stop making threats
Muhyiddin was also pleased to note “recent positive developments” regarding the independence of the judiciary, saying that it had been a topic of heated discussion since the late 1980s.
The Bersatu president said that the country’s judges are now protected by the law and the Federal Constitution in carrying out their duties and functions of upholding justice.
“It is not fair for any political party to question the independence of the judiciary, let alone threaten the judges when their leaders are sentenced,” he said.
“Abide by the court’s decision.”
It is believed that Muhyiddin was referring to criticism by Umno leaders of the Federal Court’s decision to uphold former prime minister Najib Razak’s SRC International conviction and sentence on Tuesday.
Former Umno president Najib, who is now in Kajang Prison serving a 12-year sentence, was convicted on seven charges brought against him for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) over SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Zahid called on all Umno members to be calm, saying that he was “determined to correct all the flaws in the system to ensure justice”.
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