KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob must play his cards right as he holds the power to call for the 15th General Election (GE15).

Following Umno's urgent meeting yesterday, political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul viewed the gathering of nationwide division leaders as a move to mount pressure on Ismail Sabri to dissolve Parliament and call for polls soon.

"It seems that something is not right within the party. Ismail Sabri recently remarked that GE15 might not be held that early because there were many issues, including the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) procurement project that had to be handled amicably.

"This is in contrast to the tone from Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is adamant that the GE15 has to be called as soon as possible. 

"Here, I see that Ismail Sabri needs to play his cards right. He is the one who can decide when to call for a general election even though he is Umno vice-president. It is his prerogative as the prime minister to decide when to hold the election," he told the New Straits Times today.

Ainul is of the view that the prime minister will not call for a general election until all issues, such as the LCS, are resolved.

He added that the Federal Court's verdict on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International Sdn Bhd case appeal would not affect the general election since it was seen as a personal matter and whatever the outcome was, justice must prevail.

Another political expert, Professor James Chin said the gathering of division leaders was nothing more than Zahid and Ismail Sabri camps in Umno jostling for GE15.

The division leaders are from two (camps), (jostling) on the date of the election, who is going to lead Umno into GE15, who is going to be the next prime minister, and who will be in the cabinet. So, it is all about positioning (by) Umno (leaders) in GE15 and close to the GE15 scenario.

"These are big issues faced by the camps, but for Ismail Sabri and his group, they basically do not need to do anything except stave off the pressure from calling for GE15.

Chin, the Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, said there was a possibility that Najib's court verdict might affect the decision to call for GE15.

He added that GE15 had the possibility of being held this year, seeing that parties on both sides of the aisle were actively moving their party machinery.

"So until we know the outcome (of the case) verdict; (with) no verdict delay or postponement (taking place), then the political picture will be clear. One thing for sure is that GE15 will be held this year," he said.

Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan said the recent meeting was definitely aimed at putting pressure on Ismail Sabri to call for GE15.

"I do not think Zahid and the (other) top leaders are that naïve to put pressure on the prime minister due to the (Najib's) court case.

"This is an emergency meeting. I think part of it is to show implicitly that the group, which comprises the grassroots and is represented by the division chiefs, wants GE15 to be held as soon as possible, he said.

Umno division leaders were summoned for an emergency meeting yesterday, chaired by Zahid at the World Trade Centre KL here.

It was understood that leaders from 158 out of the 191 Umno divisions attended the meeting.

Among the party leaders believed to be present were Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera Umno division chief, and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, did not attend the meeting as they had other prior engagements to attend.

Later, Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, who attended the meeting, told reporters that division chiefs at the event were unanimous in calling for GE15 to be held immediately

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/824996/pm-must-play-his-card-right-ge15