He said the latest excuse was that Deepavali celebrations was around the corner.

Zahid said Umno had called for GE15 to be held after the emergency was lifted on Aug 1, 2021.

However, such calls were brushed off with the Covid-19 pandemic given as a reason, he said.

This was despite the fact that the herd immunity had been achieved and businesses were allowed to resume operations, Zahid said.

BN’s rivals then cited the memorandum of understanding which was signed by Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government and Pakatan Harapan. The memorandum stipulated that the nationwide polls could not be held before July this year.

Zahid said last month, BN’s rivals had opposed to GE15 being held this year due to the monsoon season.

Then on Oct 2, he said, the coalition’s rivals objected to GE15 being held this year on grounds that it disrespected the Deepavali celebrations.

“The truth is our rivals do not want GE15 to be held as they know they would be rejected by the majority of the people.

“And this is what the BN machinery must explain to the people,” he said in a Facebook post.

The former deputy prime minister said their rivals were merely trying to buy time by offering such excuses.

On Sept 30, Umno leaders confirmed that the general election should be held this year, with Ismail given the discretion to propose a date to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the dissolution of Parliament.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party’s Supreme Council had agreed that Parliament should be dissolved “soon”, for elections to be held this year.