PN against flood-season polls but ready anyway, says Muhyiddin

While Perikatan Nasional (PN) is against any move by Umno to call for a flood-season election, it is ready to face any eventuality, the coalition's chairman Muhyiddin Yassin says. 

Speaking at an event in Shah Alam last night, Muhyiddin said the PN manifesto committee had begun drafting its offers to the people, covering all important areas by taking into account the post-pandemic situation, economic challenges, and assistance for the low-income group. 

"This is important, and we will announce our manifesto during the election period," he added. 

When asked about PN's candidate selection and its distribution of seats for the 15th general election (GE15), the Pagoh MP said talks were ongoing.

He said the leaders of PN's component parties were always open to discussion, to select the best candidate for the job. 

"There are no secrets among us in PN," he said. "If I do something, I will come back and report in detail what has happened to the other party leaders." 

Speculation is rife that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament and pave the way for an early election. 

Gerakan president Dominic Lau, meanwhile, speaking at the same event, said the party would not object to any of the candidates selected by PN, but would give its full support. 

"We don't care which party the candidates are from. As long as they are from PN, we will support them," he added. 

Muhyiddin said he expected PN would obtain a wider margin of votes in the event of multi-cornered fights. 

He said PN would benefit from the votes of the youth, those who were automatically registered to vote, and the increase in Malay voters. 

"If all of these factors are taken into account, along with the efforts of PN's election machinery and the situation of Umno and Barisan Nasional which are on the decline, our chances of getting more support are very good," he said, adding that all of PN's component parties had agreed to use the coalition's logo at the polls. 

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man meanwhile said PN's greatest concern at the moment was the fence-sitters who might not turn out to vote in the event of floods. 

He said this situation would give Umno the edge, as it has more hardcore supporters. 

"These supporters will turn out to vote regardless of the situation," he said. 

"So we need to focus on mobilising, to facilitate these fence-sitters on voting day."