GE14: PM still waiting for ‘spark of inspiration’
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday said that he was still waiting for ‘ the spark of inspiration’ to decide on a suitable date to call for the 14th general election (GE14).
“I’m waiting for some sort of spark, some sort of what the Malays call ‘ilham’ (inspiration) to think what is the best timing for us, as long as we do it within the ambit of the constitution, the constitution said not later than June. If we don’t call it by June, the Parliament will automatically dissolve.
“Let’s see (whether) we can wait until June or make it earlier... we’ll see how things develop,” said the Umno president after chairing the party’s supreme council meeting at Menara Dato Onn, Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
The meeting, which began at 3.10pm, was also attended by Umno vice- president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is assuming the duties of deputy president, vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, treasurer Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
It is the first Umno MT meeting this year.
Najib said Umno members at all levels were now in full state of preparedness to face the GE14.
“Party operations at all levels, including by Wanita, Youth and
I’m waiting for some sort of spark, some sort of what the Malays call ‘ilham’ (inspiration) to think what is the best timing for us, as long as we do it within the ambit of the constitution, the constitution said not later than June. If we don’t call it by June, the Parliament will automatically dissolve.
Puteri are running smoothly and I’m satisfied.
“Based on the report from Umno Management Committee chaired by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid, as well as reports from Wanita, Youth and Puteri, the level of Umno preparedness is very high today and I hope it will continue to soar till the dissolution of Parliament,” he said.
In related development, Najib said Umno would be submitting its list of GE14 candidates to the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) for vetting purposes.
“We are committed to ensuring that our election system is a clean and fair system. In fact, all our departments, ministries and agencies have taken their ( corruption- free) pledge...we are committed,” he said when asked whether the party would take the CorruptionFree Pledge ( IBR) in conjunction with the GE14.
The Prime Minister said this in response to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad’s remark that the MACC was prepared to give its cooperation to any contesting parties if they wished to take the IBR pledge.
Meanwhile, when asked on the redelineation of electoral boundaries, Najib said:
“The EC (Election Commission) will make the final decision, if it goes to Parliament, the Parliament will decide. We will take it from there.
“It is the same thing being done since day one, it is nothing irregular of what we are doing today,” he added.” — Bernama
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister