Muhyiddin hints next general election could take place after 2022 Budget passed

Petaling Jaya

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has hinted that the 15th General Election (GE15) could take place after Budget 2022 has been tabled.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Ayer Hitam division chief Osman Sapian said Mr Muhyiddin had indicated that GE15 would likely take place when Budget 2022 is completed at the federal and state levels.

"If the Budget has been passed . . . most likely, the general election will be held at the end of this year, either in November or December, " The Star newspaper reported Malay daily Sinar Harian as quoting the former Johor menteri besar (chief minister) as saying.

"After all, nothing is impossible because there was a general election that was called after the Budget was announced," he added on Monday.

However, Mr Osman also said GE15 could be postponed to early next year due to the year-end monsoon season. The election will be called once new Covid-19 cases go down and after 60-80 per cent of the population receive their vaccinations, he added.

The Kempas assemblyman said various issues were touched on during an online meeting chaired by Mr Muhyiddin as the party president, including assistance to the people and measures to address the spread of Covid-19. He also said both Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional have been instructed to gear up and prepare election materials to be distributed to the various divisions.