Ahmad, an Umno Supreme Council member, said he made the suggestion based on his experience as the party’s former information chief and secretary-general, adding that timing was a critical factor in politics.

“I expressed a personal opinion. It was not a decision of Johor Umno or any Supreme Council meeting,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

The deputy works minister cited the 15th general election (GE15) as an example of how poor timing led to a loss of power for Umno and Barisan Nasional.

“GE15 was a timing mistake. It should have been held after the success of the Johor state election in March 2022, not after Najib Razak was jailed in August the same year.

“At the time, public sentiment was filled with anger and disappointment. You cannot carry out something as significant as a state election when public emotions are negative – angry and frustrated – especially amid rising diesel prices and the cost of goods,” he said.

Yesterday, Ahmad proposed that the two state elections be delayed in light of the Middle East conflict, which has led to a surge in crude oil prices.

The Johor Umno deputy chairman said he would table his proposal at the Umno Supreme Council meeting this Friday.

The Melaka and Johor state polls must take place by February and June 2027, respectively. Both state governments are led by Umno.

PAS central working committee member Awang Hashim rejected the call to postpone the polls, saying the people must be given the mandate to choose their government.

He said elections in the two states should proceed so that voters could decide on new governments capable of restructuring the economy in light of the global crisis.