Election days come and go. But the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent – a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice – that struggle continues.
– Bernie Sanders, US senator
The social media was awash a few days ago with a viral photo purportedly showing important dates pertaining to the 15th general election (GE15).
In the photo, it appeared to suggest that Parliament will be dissolved on Sept 1, paving the way for the polls to be held on Oct 8.
This triggered speculations on when the actual date is for the GE15 which must be held latest by mid-next year, completing the five-year period of the current term since 2018.
Pakatan Harapan (PH), the victors in the last GE, were only in power for less than half of the term, eventually collapsing in early 2020.
After its collapse, there were calls for a general election ever since as the people’s sentiment swayed further from PH and moving towards the previous United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) – Barisan Nasional (BN) faction.
This was seen after back-to-back wins in by-elections and state elections where rival Malay-based parties were rejected by voters.
Presently, there are many reasons for political parties to want a GE to be held as soon as possible.
For one, UMNO wants to sever ties with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) as the relationship between the leaders and grassroots of both parties have soured.
BERSATU was meant to replace UMNO and eliminate the latter – it was not meant to co-exist. This is the sentiment of the grassroots. UMNO also believed that BERSATU has turned out to be a liability in terms of its efforts to recover the country’s economy.
They pointed out that important posts pertaining to Malaysia’s economy is not held by UMNO and the UMNO Prime Minister cannot do much with these posts being held BERSATU.
While for those in Pakatan Harapan (PH), they viewed that it’s time they regained control of the government which it won in 2018.
They have a renewed sense of belief with the return of former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) fold.
How much and how well will Rafizi link up with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is up for debate. It is little secret that Rafizi, now PKR deputy president, was only able to be in that position in the absence of predecessor Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Then Anwar’s equal to the influential Azmin, Rafizi lost against the latter for the deputy president’s post in the previous party elections and opted to lay low in politics.
His return strategy was to launch targeted attacks against popular former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The tit for tat between those two has made rounds in social media.
However, sentiments against Rafizi remain less than favourable where the former Pandan MP, while not contesting in the previous GE, has been the mouthpiece for the coalition. The people still relate PH’s failings with Rafizi.
Then there’s the question of the political wild cards. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has recently launched the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition.
GTA comprises Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (PEJUANG), Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (IMAN), Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (BERJASA) and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA).
At most, this will only serve to divide votes among the voters who are now inundated with Malay-based parties.
Regardless, it is expected that the GE will only be called after the federal 2023 Budget is passed in Parliament.
It is convention for politicians to pass the budget first and allow the people to reap the benefits before dissolving Parliament, said one federal minister responding to the viral photo of the election dates earlier.
The federal budget is slated to be tabled on Oct 28, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said this remains unchanged.
If that is the case, the earliest that Parliament can be dissolved would be sometime in November and the polls can be held earliest in December, if not January.
So far, all signs are pointing to this – the federal budget. Any indication of an early GE will be down to the budget.
As with any government that’s about to step down, it would want to end on a high note and create a feel-good factor among the people. It is no different here.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
