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KUALA LUMPUR – An election should take place at a point that is convenient to the electricity, thus impossible to hold it during floods.
Veteran politician Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said that the current administration could not just simply decide on the dates at their own “whims and fancies” without taking into account the public’s opinion.
However, the former Home Minister said despite the public’s opinion, it was still up to the government or political party to consider.
He also said that Malaysia's political landscape had become very unique as it was not a government of political parties, but rather of individuals led by the prime minister who were members of parliament.
“What is the most important in an election under normal circumstances is that it is decided by the government of the day when the best time to run it is so that they can get the majority that they want to form a government,” he said this during a Fireside Chat interview with Sinar Daily.
He also said that even though the party was in charge of deciding when the election will be taking place, the Prime Minister was the one who held the final decision.
“There is a dilemma as in a lot of opposing views among the public regarding the next election. Some said that it should be held now to provide political stability while some said otherwise,” he said.
When asked on Umno’s consideration on the citizen’s interest and the fact that the monsoon season would be arriving soon, he said he was in no position to say whether he was happy or not, but as a voter and somebody who had served the country, he thought it was important for the country to have a very predictable government, certain government, stable politics.
What made all these three elements fulfilled is up to the political party of the government to decide, he added.
Syed Hamid further expressed that Umno like any other political party would definitely look for the best time that would bring them advantage thus it was not surprising that they were pushing for an immediate polls as they felt everybody was in a mess.
He said that after all, Umno also won certainty since the prime minister was the poster boy and they had already got candidates for the premier shift.
Syed Hamid added that if Umno acted against public interest or reaction, it would not be in their favour.
He said their judgment was based on Melaka and Johor state election.
“It's a very important question because it is a subject that everyone is discussing on a routine and daily basis,” he responded when questioned regarding the timing of the 15th General Election.
