Malaysia's parties jockey for position as election talk ramps up
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Loading... - Chang Pu Lin
- 07 Sep 2022
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Malaysia's diverse array of political parties are preparing for a general election that could come as early as this year, with some in the ruling coalition pushing for an early poll to capitalize on its strong position.
"I am confident that [the next general election] will be held this year because there are many indicators pointing in that direction," Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of the United Malays National Organization, said Sunday, according to national news agency Bernama. UMNO is the core of Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
This comment puts more pressure on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a fellow UMNO member, to dissolve parliament soon.
The vote must be held by next summer, when lower house lawmakers elected in 2018 see their terms end. Any snap election this year likely would occur in late October, around when the proposed 2023 budget is released.
Local newspaper Utusan Malaysia reported Aug. 12 that the parliamentary seat now held by former Prime Minister Najib Razak could be contested by his son, Mohd Nizar Najib. The elder Najib still wields substantial influence even after stepping down as leader in 2018, despite being convicted on corruption charges related to the 1MDB scandal in a case under appeal before Malaysia's highest court. Read More...
