Cabinet focused on flood preparations, not dissolving Parliament, says Azmin

International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali today said the Cabinet was holding to the provisions in the constitution concerning the date of dissolution for Parliament despite calls by Umno for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to hold the 15th general election (GE15) this year. 

He said the Cabinet meetings were not aimed at determining a date for the polls as there was no need for this.

"It is the Cabinet that will advise the Agong, and the prime minister will carry the mandate from the Cabinet.

"In our early discussions, we told the prime minister to focus on preparing for the possibility of floods. We have a lot of time. There is no need to rush," he said at a press conference after the launch of the Bersatu election machinery in Shah Alam.

Azmin, a member of Bersatu's Supreme Council, also said he was not surprised by Umno's calls for the dissolution of Parliament this year, saying this was being done to guard the interests of a few. 

The Umno top five, including Ismail, recently met at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to reach a consensus regarding the date of dissolution for Parliament and for the election itself. 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has stuck to his stand for an early election despite strong criticism due to the storms and floods expected at the end of the year. 

Azmin said while the economy was improving, the country needed time to convince foreign investors to bring in the money. 

"Only with new investments can we create sustainable growth and job opportunities," he said.