Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing.
– Bernard M Baruch, American financier
Those not in favour of holding the 15th general election (GE15) this year have better get ready too. Whether they like it or not, expect the next general election to be held before the year is out.
There is even talk of the most likely months for the polls, either September or October. It is to be held before year end, meaning before December. This is how those close to the UMNO leadership are now telling their grassroots – be ready for the elections in three months.
The directive is like – “three months is all you have to prepare”. So, get ready. Others, do not say that you have not been informed.
Well, are the parties in Sarawak ready for GE15?
In my chat with a SUPP branch leader over the weekend, he declared confidently, “we are prepared for the elections to be held yesterday even”.
Wow, that’s not over-confidence, I hope. But good for a rejuvenated SUPP. The party should be able to perform better than GE14 surely.
No one expects PBB, the backbone of GPS, to face any problem with retaining all their parliamentary seats. PRS and PDP too couldn’t do any worse than 2018. The treacherous MPs holding some PRS seats currently should have difficulty in retaining them given a return of Dayak voters to the GPS fold.
Opposition parties in Sarawak are racing against time to cobble together an alliance which is basically to avoid seat clashes.
A straight fight is ideal but that is easier said than done when there are so many parties with different ideologies eyeing the same “safe” seats.
The four GPS parties are clear of their allocations and their allotted seats but not so for the opposition parties. Given their lack of resources and the absence of a formal, workable pact, it would be an uphill task for the opposition to make an impact in Sarawak.
At the national level, I think it is next to impossible for Pakatan Harapan (PH) to repeat its historic GE14 victory on May 9, 2018. PH did not expect to win then, but they did. Come GE15, PH knew they could not win and they would not. But I must add, save for a miracle.
One thing is also clear – UMNO calls the shot on when to stage GE15. The prime minister is from UMNO and it is the PM’s prerogative when to call for elections.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has maintained that in terms of procedure, the decision to dissolve the Parliament and pave the way for GE15 will be decided by the cabinet.
Asked earlier this month, Ismail Sabri also declined to commit to a general election this year or next, stating that people should wait and see.
Whatever his personal wishes might be, the prime minister is already facing pressure from the UMNO leadership to call for early national polls.
At UMNO’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on May 15, party delegates had unanimously voted in favour of amending its constitution in order to allow party polls to be delayed up to six months after a general election.
Previously UMNO can only postpone its election by up to 18 months.
With this amendment, it now has the option to postpone up to 18 months from the end of its leadership’s term or up to six months after a general election, whichever date comes later.
The UMNO election was due in June last year but was postponed by 18 months until the end of this year.
UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had earlier said the amendment was not meant to save his position but that it was meant to provide stability to the party going into the upcoming general election.
Ismail Sabri is also believed to be facing pressure from the Bersatu leadership. There is a purported threat to withdraw support for him as prime minister.
Between pressure from his own party and that from Bersatu, Ismail Sabri would surely be better off following his party’s directive to hold GE15 this year.
After all, he has already been assured the premiership should BN/UMNO win the election.
And that is what we can expect Ismail Sabri to do – call GE15 before year end.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune. Feedback can reach the writer at sirsiah@gmail.com
