THERE is growing demand for the 15th General Election (GE15) to be held soon, but the prime minister should exercise caution in making a decision on it.
Observers say Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should steer the country to a post-pandemic recovery by heeding the health minister's warning against holding the general election in the near future.
Former Bukit Bintang member of parliament Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he was hopeful the prime minister would give serious thought to what Khairy Jamaluddin said on Friday amid renewed calls from Umno to hold national polls after Barisan Nasional's victory in the Melaka election.
"The people's mandate is important, but to hold it (general election) now would be too big a risk. We are now confronted with the new Omicron (Covid-19) variant. There is no hurry. Constitutionally, we have until July 2023 to hold a general election."
He said those calling for national polls to be held could not claim that they were in the same boat as Sarawakians as the state assembly's five-year term ended in June and the Emergency instituted to curb the spread of Covid-19 was lifted early this month.
"Theirs is a constitutional requirement, not a choice. It would be better if the government focus on getting the economy back on its feet and transitioning into the endemic stage," said the health and safety advocate.
On Friday, Khairy said holding a general election now would be irresponsible as Covid-19 infections and hospital admissions were increasing and new variants were emerging.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil agreed that now was not the time for GE15.
"We need to be very vigilant now that WHO (World Health Organisation) and the Health Ministry has just raised the alarm on Omicron."
He said he was concerned that the public health system would be badly affected if there was a new wave of Covid-19 infections when the immunity of vaccinated people weakened three to six months after their second dose and if booster shot uptake remained low.
"We have yet to see the full impact of the Melaka election in terms of Covid-19 transmission as we have not crossed the two to three weeks incubation period for the Delta variant."
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said the government must honour its pledge to delay GE15 until after August next year, per the memorandum of understanding signed by the federal government and Pakatan Harapan in September.
"Our position is the general election should not be held soon. The government must honour its commitment to delay the general election."
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party agreed that GE15 should not be held now as Covid-19 was still a challenge.
He said the public's safety was a priority.
"Melaka proves there is a sizeable number of voters who are scared to go out and vote, which affected the turnout and polls' results. Pas believes the Sarawak polls will give a better projection for GE15.
"What is important now is to focus on our political cooperation with Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia."
On Nov 20, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said he had spoken to Ismail Sabri about bringing forward the general election.
"Politics isn't static, it changes every day and we need to give serious thought to holding the general election earlier or wait until the term ends," he reportedly said after Umno's victory in the Melaka polls.
Mohamad, better known as Tok Mat, said if it were up to him, he would call national polls the very next day, citing the "feel good factor" of BN winning 21 out of 28 seats it contested in the state election.
The BN deputy chairman said Umno was still open to working with Pas under Muafakat Nasional even though the party won the state election on its own.
The 14th Parliament first sat on July 16, 2018 and will automatically dissolve in June 2023 to pave the way for GE15 unless it is dissolved earlier.
Member of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, are elected using the first past the post system and the party or coalition with a majority in the lower house will form the federal government.
Except for Sabah, Melaka and Sarawak, which will hold its state election next month, other states will likely hold state polls at the same time as GE15.
Since 1955, the Alliance, later BN, has held the majority of seats in the Dewan Rakyat. Pakatan Harapan ended the streak in 2018.
