PAS not in sync with
Bersatu on snap elections,
says Tuan Ibrahim
PAS’s Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says GE16 is unlikely to be held this year, but may run concurrently with state elections in Johor and Melaka.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man insisted that his party was prepared to go to the polls at any time, but with the general election only due in 2027, he says GE16 would more likely be called next year.
“It’s not impossible for GE16 to be called early so that it is held concurrently with state elections,” he said.
However, Tuan Ibrahim discounted the likelihood of it being held concurrently with the Sabah state election, due by December this year.
“Looking at the current scenario, with the rise in cost of living and the prime minister’s failure to address various current issues, I’m certain GE16 will not be called this year,” the Kubang Kerian MP told FMT.
“Maybe it will be held simultaneously with the Melaka and Johor state election.”
The Melaka government’s term ends in 2026. The state last held its election in November 2021, after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the then Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional government.
Johor held its state polls in March 2022 after then menteri besar Hasni Mohammad sought a fresh mandate from voters because of Barisan Nasional’s slim single-seat majority in the state assembly. The current state government’s term ends in 2027.
Last week, Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali said party president Muhyiddin Yassin had called for Bersatu’s machinery to be mobilised in preparation for a potential snap general election at the end of this year.
Azmin said Muhyiddin issued the directive after “very encouraging developments” following a meeting among the top leadership of Bersatu and PAS on Feb 5.
However, a source in PAS told FMT his party was unlikely to follow its ally’s lead by preparing for a snap election to be held by year-end.
The PAS leader who declined to be named said PAS was “not too hyped up” about GE16 taking place this year. He said the two PN components appeared to be working independently of each other.
A Bersatu source meanwhile said only a handful of leaders in the party were adamant on pushing for GE16 this year, with others taking the view that such a scenario was unlikely.
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