UMNO Deputy Chief Favours Imminent Snap Poll, Says It Will Be Discussed After Jul 31

The best time to hold the next general election is now, said UMNO Deputy President Mohamad, who often goes by his nickname Tok Mat.

• Tok Mat, the second most senior officer in Malaysia's biggest political party, spoke at a press conference at UMNO headquarters on Wednesday.
• "As far as the party is concerned, to us now is the best time. The window is now, that is the party's position," the Straits Times cites him as saying. Tok Mat added that the final decision is up to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri.
• "I suppose the Prime Minister has his own views and other considerations. Perhaps he is waiting for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Opposition to expire on July 31 to honour his word."
• The government's MoU wit the Opposition stipulates that the Dewan Rakyat will not be dissolved by July 31 to maintain political stability at a time when the country's political leadership is handling recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Tok Mat noted that the idea will be discussed after that date.
• The choir of UMNO members calling for a snap general election has grown louder after the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional alliance secured landslide victories in elections to state assemblies in Melaka and Johor.
• Tok Mat is among the leading voices pushing for a snap poll. In previous speeches, he pointed to UMNO's tactical advantage over its rivals and the need to ensure that Malaysia has a popularly elected government. Note that the current administration took power as a result of lawmakers' defections.