Umno wants to force GE by October, says Rafizi
B Nantha Kumar
Published: May 2, 2026 8:00 PM
Updated: 10:00 PM
Force a general election by October - that is the ultimate aim of the crisis triggered by Negeri Sembilan Umno, according to PKR ex-deputy president Rafizi Ramli, as his colleagues in Pakatan Harapan continue to reel from the episode last week.
“The controversy in Negeri Sembilan is Umno’s grand strategy to build a wave of support similar to what happened in the previous Malacca and Johor state elections,” he said, referring to the victories BN chalked up in those polls that took place in 2021 and 2022.
“The aim is to force Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election,” he speculated in the latest episode of his podcast “Yang Berhenti Menteri”.
“Using the same strategy now, (they want to) build a big wave. That will force Anwar to hold an early general election, and Umno will mop up seats all over Malaysia.
“The plan involves holding the election in October together with polls in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor,” Rafizi said.
Umno’s top leadership has made it clear that it has not supported a postponement of the Johor and Malacca state polls, which have to be called by early next year. The federal government’s term, however, only ends in December 2027.
Published: May 2, 2026 8:00 PM
Updated: 10:00 PM
Force a general election by October - that is the ultimate aim of the crisis triggered by Negeri Sembilan Umno, according to PKR ex-deputy president Rafizi Ramli, as his colleagues in Pakatan Harapan continue to reel from the episode last week.
“The controversy in Negeri Sembilan is Umno’s grand strategy to build a wave of support similar to what happened in the previous Malacca and Johor state elections,” he said, referring to the victories BN chalked up in those polls that took place in 2021 and 2022.
“The aim is to force Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election,” he speculated in the latest episode of his podcast “Yang Berhenti Menteri”.
“Using the same strategy now, (they want to) build a big wave. That will force Anwar to hold an early general election, and Umno will mop up seats all over Malaysia.
“The plan involves holding the election in October together with polls in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor,” Rafizi said.
Umno’s top leadership has made it clear that it has not supported a postponement of the Johor and Malacca state polls, which have to be called by early next year. The federal government’s term, however, only ends in December 2027.
Umno’s 80th anniversay convention today
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Anwar is allegedly in the early stages of considering holding a general election in the third quarter of this year.
Experts and some politicians, however, have suggested that the two state polls be postponed so that the federal government can focus on tackling economic pressures triggered by the US-Israel-Iran war.
Shows Umno’s true colours
Earlier this week, all 14 Negeri Sembilan Umno state lawmakers withdrew support from Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, who is from Harapan, after losing confidence in his leadership.
Led by Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias, the party, which is a partner with Harapan in the federal government, said it was willing to form a state government with opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional.
The move sparked anger among Harapan leaders and supporters who called on the coalition to review its ties with Umno.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Anwar is allegedly in the early stages of considering holding a general election in the third quarter of this year.
Experts and some politicians, however, have suggested that the two state polls be postponed so that the federal government can focus on tackling economic pressures triggered by the US-Israel-Iran war.
Shows Umno’s true colours
Earlier this week, all 14 Negeri Sembilan Umno state lawmakers withdrew support from Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, who is from Harapan, after losing confidence in his leadership.
Led by Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias, the party, which is a partner with Harapan in the federal government, said it was willing to form a state government with opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional.
The move sparked anger among Harapan leaders and supporters who called on the coalition to review its ties with Umno.
Negeri Sembilan Umno
Since then, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the party respects the stand taken by its Negeri Sembilan lawmakers, but that the party would still support the Madani administration led by Anwar, who is the Harapan chairperson.
Speaking on his podcast, Rafizi said the Negeri Sembilan gambit did not pay off and would tarnish Umno’s image, labelling it a “backdoor party”.
“The crisis reminds people of Umno’s true colours and the party’s internal issues. The move is premature and fails to take into consideration its long-term negative impacts”.
A backdoor party will be viewed negatively by progressive Malay voters and non-Malay voters, Rafizi said.
“Umno’s victories in Negeri Sembilan actually depended on non-Malay and Malay voters,” he added.
Speaking on his podcast, Rafizi said the Negeri Sembilan gambit did not pay off and would tarnish Umno’s image, labelling it a “backdoor party”.
“The crisis reminds people of Umno’s true colours and the party’s internal issues. The move is premature and fails to take into consideration its long-term negative impacts”.
A backdoor party will be viewed negatively by progressive Malay voters and non-Malay voters, Rafizi said.
“Umno’s victories in Negeri Sembilan actually depended on non-Malay and Malay voters,” he added.
Weeks after arm-twisting neighboring countries of TINY Eswatini to deny flyover rights…..
ReplyDeleteReally embarrassing how cemburu BullyXi is on Taiwans’s success and wanting to make frens in Africa….
🇹🇼 President Lai just landed in Eswatini!!!
This is Taiwanese way of saying “Fuck you, CCP”. 🖕
Sanibonani! I arrived in #Eswatini today to affirm our longstanding friendship. #Taiwan will never be deterred by external pressures. Our resolve & commitment are underpinned by the understanding that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world—no matter the challenges faced.
https://x.com/chingtelai/status/2050520670506045492?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
BullyXi So So Cemburu….
ReplyDeleteChina blocked the airspace. Germany said no. The Czech Republic said no. Taiwan's president found another way and landed anyway.
President Lai Ching-te just arrived in Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa. His greeting: "Sanibonani," the local Swazi word for hello. Simple, human, and pointed.
Two weeks ago, this trip was impossible. The Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permits for Lai's presidential aircraft less than 24 hours before departure, in what Taiwan described as a coordinated act of pressure at China's behest. It marked the first time in history that a Taiwanese president was forced to cancel an entire foreign trip due to airspace denial. Taiwan then made urgent requests to transit through Europe. Germany refused. The Czech Republic refused.
So Taiwan found another route. The details have not been fully disclosed. Lai arrived unannounced, posted a photo from the aircraft stairs, and greeted the Swazi people in their own language.
Beijing deployed the airspace of three countries to stop a democratic leader from visiting a democratic ally. It pressured two European nations into refusing transit. It failed. Lai is there.
Eswatini has held firm as Taiwan's only African partner despite sustained Chinese diplomatic and economic pressure for years. Taiwan has only 12 diplomatic allies left globally. The CCP has spent decades systematically eliminating each one with promises of investment and political pressure. It has not gotten this one yet.
"Taiwan will never be deterred by external pressures," Lai wrote. After what it took to get there, those are not empty words.
Where Do Expired Wind Turbines Go To Die?
ReplyDeleteThe blades are composite plastic, impossible to recycle…….and they are made from ……you guessed it…..fossil fuel.
But With Nuklear Power, you can Shoot The Spent Fuel Into Space, Never To Come Back.
The world will have to deal with 43 million tons of decommissioned wind turbine blades by Net Zero in 2050.
To put that in perspective, it’s the equivalent weight of 215,000 locomotives. These blades are made of high-strength composites designed to survive decades of brutal weather, and they are notoriously difficult to recycle. They were built to last, but they weren't built to disappear.
Every turbine standing today will likely be decommissioned and replaced at least once before 2050. Without a cost-effective way to recycle fibre-reinforced polymers, the majority of these massive blades are destined for eternity - buried forever in turbine graveyards.
China, Europe, and the US will account for the vast majority of this waste, creating a mountainous industrial heartache that many Net Zero models simply haven't priced in.
But 43 million tons of purely composite blade waste every 20 years is a colossal physical reality.