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Too much talk on GE15 will affect political stability, PM says

Ismail Sabri Yaakob says it will also affect the government's focus on solving the people's problems.

Bernama
2 minute read
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Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob checks the facilities at the Kampung Batu MRT station at the launch of Phase One of the Putrajaya MRT line in Kuala Lumpur today. With him are Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. Photo: Bernama
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob checks the facilities at the Kampung Batu MRT station at the launch of Phase One of the Putrajaya MRT line in Kuala Lumpur today. With him are Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. Photo: Bernama

Engaging in extensive discussions on when the 15th general election (GE15) should be held will affect the country’s political stability, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

He said it would also affect the government’s focus on solving the people’s problems, including the price hikes influenced by the global economic outlook.

“The country’s politics is still stable. We are now focusing on reviving the economy and tackling the general increase in prices, as well as supply issues which are now a global phenomenon.

“If we talk too much about when GE15 will be held, it will somehow affect our political stability as we will be bogged down in discussions about this rather than managing the country,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The prime minister said although the economic crisis was a global issue, the government still had to give proper attention to the matter to ensure that the impact would not be too detrimental to the country.

Ismail also reiterated that no prime minister had ever discussed the possible date of a general election openly.

In another development, he said he would meet with Zuraida Kamaruddin next week to discuss the status of the former Bersatu leader as the plantation industries and commodities minister.

He said Zuraida’s position would remain intact until she herself confirmed her resignation or was sacked from the Cabinet.

“So far, Zuraida is still a minister and comes to work as usual. Yesterday, she even attended the Cabinet meeting,” he said, adding that he had also notified Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin of the matter and would meet with him after meeting Zuraida.

On Tuesday, Muhyiddin said he was waiting to meet with Ismail to discuss Zuraida’s position in the Cabinet after she announced on May 26 her decision to leave Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Zuraida was appointed as housing and local government minister after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election in May 2018. She had retained the post under Muhyiddin’s administration, but was given a new portfolio as plantation industries and commodities minister in Ismail’s Cabinet.