Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri resists Umno calls for early general election amid Johor win

The premier’s party and its allies won a supermajority in last week’s state polls, strengthening the bloc’s position ahead of a national vote due next year

Ismail Sabri said many factors must be taken into consideration including a meeting with the king before holding the election

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Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:25pm, 14 Mar 2022Updated: 2:30pm, 14 Mar 2022

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he won’t be rushed into calling an early general election despite pressure from his own party following its resounding victory during local elections on Saturday.

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and its allies won a supermajority in local elections for the second time in four months, strengthening its position ahead of a general election due next year.

Supporters chanted “dissolve parliament” – a precursor to a nationwide vote – as Ismail Sabri walked through the party’s command centre in Johor state on Saturday night.

“We cannot hold GE15 just because one small group is shouting for elections to be held,” he said during an event on Sunday in reference to the next national poll, according to The New Straits Times. “Discussions on elections is a major thing and it has to be seriously discussed in the party.”

The Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition won 40 of the 56 state assembly seats in the Johor poll after the coalition clinched a two-thirds majority in the Malacca state election in November. That’s prompted calls within the party for the national vote to be brought forward to capitalise on the momentum.