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Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong on Thursday said that the Cabinet discussed at length the preparation for the GE15.
New Straits Times quoted the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president as saying that while it was not the government’s intention to hold the election during floods, preparation must nevertheless be made for the possibility.
He said Malaysians must brace themselves for the possibility of going to the polls during the rainy season.
Dr Wee, however, stressed that the government is not planning for the polling day to coincide with floods.
“We are not purposely doing this. All I am saying is that we have to be ready,” he said, according to New Straits Times.
Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim was also quoted by the daily as saying that the Cabinet discussed GE15 and other issues.
“We talked at length about the preparation for the floods in October, November and December,” he said.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Takiyuddin Hassan was not in favour of holding the general election amid expected floods.
“For us, it is better not to have GE15 now since there is already an indication that the floods are likely to occur,” he was quoted as saying.
Malay daily Utusan Malaysia quoted an anonymous Cabinet minister as saying that ministers from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) were in favour of an early election, but this was objected to by ministers from Perikatan Nasional (PN), namely Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).
Utusan reported that Bersatu and PAS ministers wanted the government to focus on flood management and the economy instead.
PAS minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was quoted in the report as saying that the Cabinet did not decide on an election date and only talked about flood management preparation and economic recovery.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, who is from UMNO, was reported to echo Mr Tuan Ibrahim’s comments.
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