Preparing for snap polls not against king’s wishes, says Bersatu Youth

Preparing for snap polls not against king’s wishes, says Bersatu Youth

PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu Youth leader has defended the party from the criticism it received for preparing for a snap general election this year, including accusations of going against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Seberang Jaya assemblyman Izhar Shah Arif Shah said it was the responsibility of every political party committed to democracy to ensure that it was always prepared for an election.

“Statements from MPs accusing Bersatu of disrespecting the Agong’s wishes are a cheap attempt at diverting public attention from the failures of the Madani government,” he said in a statement.

He also claimed that Malaysians were generally losing confidence in the Anwar Ibrahim administration, which he accused of failing to manage the economy and curb hikes in the cost of living.

“Therefore, the possibility of a snap general election is a reality that cannot be dismissed,” said Izhar, who heads Bersatu Youth’s election bureau.

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On Friday, party secretary-general Azmin Ali said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had ordered the immediate mobilisation of the party’s machinery in preparation for a potential snap general election at the end of the year.

Azmin said Muhyiddin issued the directive during a Bersatu meeting on Friday which also discussed “very encouraging developments” following a meeting between the top leaders of Bersatu and PAS.

In response, government backbenchers reminded Bersatu that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had warned MPs against causing political instability in opening this year’s Dewan Rakyat meeting.

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer said Bersatu’s talk of a snap election went against the Agong’s wishes, and that it was not serving as a “constructive opposition”.