He also said a decision would be made when BN was “fully prepared” and the government would not rush it since it needed to take into account various opinions before it could call for the dissolution of Parliament.
“We will make a decision after the matter has been discussed within the party (BN). We can’t decide (to hold it) just because there is a small group of people ‘screaming’ for it.
“The decision has to be discussed seriously since the general election is a huge matter. There are other things that need to be looked into as well, and there are procedures,” Astro Awani quoted him as saying to the press after attending an event in Bera, Pahang, today.
He also said he would consider DAP’s suggestion to extend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and Pakatan Harapan which expires on July 31.
“We will also take into consideration DAP’s suggestion for the MoU. What is important is that the rakyat’s interests need to be taken care of, which is why I said, it is not yet time for the general election, let us wait,” said Ismail.
On Thursday in the Dewan Rakyat, DAP’s Loke Siew Fook called on the prime minister to extend the MoU to postpone the elections until after the current parliamentary session ends on Dec 15.
Yesterday, Ismail, who is also Umno vice-president, was greeted with chants of “Bubar Parlimen” (Dissolve Parliament) by party supporters when he visited the BN war room after the coalition’s big win in the Johor elections.
The chants reflect the desire of senior Umno leaders who have put pressure on Ismail to call for an early general election before Parliament’s term expires in mid-2023.
Meanwhile, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the public health situation in the country needed to be stabilised first before GE15 can be called.
“Even when the country has entered the transition to (the) endemic phase, it does not mean that the pandemic has ended. Everyone will still have to be careful as the general election will involve a lot of people,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
“When the country’s borders are opened, spacing between congregants in mosques and suraus will be narrowed and the capacity limit lifted. But it does not mean that we can do anything we like.
“The Johor state elections have just ended, so I feel it is better for the public health situation to be really stable first,” he told reporters after attending a programme in Seremban today.
The minister added that there was no urgent need to call for GE15 since the government was stable due to the MoU signed with Pakatan Harapan last year.
“I see that the federal government has an agreement (the MoU) until July, so there is no urgent need for it (GE15) as the government is stable.
“It will not collapse and laws can be passed in Parliament. So, let’s not do anything unnecessary just because we see a political opportunity,” he said.
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