We made wrong call on 2022 election date, says Umno's Ahmad Maslan
PETALING JAYA : Umno's lacklustre performance in the 2022 general election was partly down to calling for the nationwide polls at the wrong time, according to a party leader.
Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan said although the party then suffered its heaviest election loss, it has not lost its fangs and remains politically relevant, citing Umno's success in winning multiple by-elections since the unity government was formed.
'It's not that Umno isn't strong as some say, but we placed the wrong bet in terms of choosing the date for GE15. We were still in power at the time, and the then prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob was from Umno.
'However, because we chose the wrong date, we suffered our heaviest election loss ever,' he said at the Bachok Umno division's delegates meeting.
Umno won only 26 parliamentary seats in 2022, a sharp drop from its high-point of 102 seats in 2004.
'However, since then, by winning the by-elections in Nenggiri, Pelangai, Tioman, Ayer Kuning and Mahkota, we have shown that we are still formidable,' he said according to Harian Metro.
Ahmad, who is deputy works minister, urged Umno's election machinery and members to take encouragement from the by-election results as they prepare for the next general election.
He added that Umno must carry out several measures in order to ensure victory, including holding frequent grassroots activities on the ground and ensuring unity at the machinery level.
The 2022 general election was called by Ismail, then an Umno vice-president, who announced Parliament's dissolution on Oct 10 that year, well ahead of its expiry in July 2023.
Umno had been pushing for a snap election to be held by the end of 2022, but Ismail denied that the dissolution was due to Umno pressure. He said it was because his government could no longer function well, as the 12 Perikatan Nasional ministers in his Cabinet were being pressured by their 'boss'.
The general election was held in November 2022, resulting in a hung Parliament, when no party won enough seats for a parliamentary majority. Pakatan Harapan won 81 seats, Perikatan Nasional 74 and the Umno-led Barisan Nasional 30.
A coalition government was then formed by PH, BN, East Malaysian parties, and independents, who command a total of 153 seats, well over the 122 needed for a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
24 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Industry concerns emerge as Gig Workers Bill set for parliamentary reading
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Industry players are warning the government against rushing the Gig Workers Bill through Parliament this month, saying the legislation should not proceed without first establishing a dedicated commission to oversee the sector. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, managing partner at think tank MYmobility, questioned the urgency and called for the immediate establishment of the Malaysia Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM) to lead regulation and policy development. He argued that pushing the Bill ahead of SEGiM's formation is 'putting the cart before the horse' and risks introducing a flawed framework that fails to reflect the industry's realities, Scoop reported. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced the first reading of the Bill will take place on August 14, with a second reading and debate scheduled on August 26. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the Bill, developed after consultations with over 3,000 workers, is intended to offer social protection to 1.12 million gig workers and has received positive feedback internationally. Some platform operators remain uneasy, however, saying the Bill's content has not been shared and appears disconnected from day-to-day operational challenges. Rahman Hussin, head of business development at Kiddocare, urged the government to release the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), saying businesses need clarity on compliance costs and the feasibility of implementing mandatory Perkeso deductions. Jalludin Abu Hassan, director of rural-focused Halo Delivery, echoed concerns over financial strain, warning that high compliance costs could force smaller firms to shut down and leave the market dominated by large corporations.
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
MCMC to record Muhyiddin's statement over RON95 subsidy claim
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said the probe did not include claims or allegations levelled against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission says it has contacted former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to record his statement in its probe into a claim on the RON95 subsidy. In a statement MCMC said that Muhyiddin would be questioned as a witness. 'The focus of the probe is to confirm the context of the content that was uploaded. 'The probe does not include any claims or allegations levelled against him.' MCMC also said it would be contacting the relevant individuals to complete its probe. Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered MCMC to look into his claim that Muhyiddin had defended the distribution of government subsidies to foreigners. In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said it acknowledged the Perikatan Nasional chairman's denial of ever making such a statement involving targeted RON95 petrol subsidy. On Tuesday, Sinar Harian quoted Anwar as saying that Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president, had questioned the government for burdening foreigners when they have also made significant contributions to the country. Anwar said the government had decided on targeted subsidies for electricity and RON95 petrol so that it could continue helping Malaysians while reducing the nation's fiscal deficit. Muhyiddin later denied having made such a statement and urged Anwar to furnish proof of his claim. The former prime minister said Anwar's claim was slanderous and that his stand from the beginning was that government subsidies should be for Malaysians, not foreigners.
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Migrant worker protection is about human rights, not just ILO rules, says Sim
Human resources minister Steven Sim said the government is still committed to reducing reliance on migrant workers as outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan, from the current 15% to 10% by 2030. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The human resources ministry does not view migrant worker protection as a matter of mere compliance with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, but as one of human rights, says its minister. Steven Sim said the government's commitment to protecting migrant workers' rights is rooted in humanity. 'Beyond altruism, a system that exploits migrant workers will ultimately harm local communities as well. 'Just because Singapore isn't following (ILO conventions), doesn't mean we shouldn't. 'We must ensure all workers in this country are fairly treated,' he said at an event organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. Earlier this week, Malaysiakini reported former finance minister and DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng as saying in the Dewan Rakyat that there was 'no need to mandate the RM1,700 minimum wage and 2% EPF contributions for migrant workers' already in the workforce. Lim had pointed to Singapore's policy of not requiring Central Provident Fund contributions for migrant workers since 2003, without repercussions from the ILO. In response, PSM's deputy chairman S Arutchelvan slammed Lim's remarks yesterday as a 'blatant endorsement of modern-day exploitation'. Earlier today, former MP and Suaram director Kua Kia Soong also questioned whether DAP's stance on social justice and equality had changed. He said the party, which has long styled itself as 'the conscience of Malaysian politics', risked appearing like a 'hollow vessel' when it comes to defending labour rights. Meanwhile, Sim said the government is still committed to reducing reliance on migrant workers as outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan, from the current 15% to 10% by 2030. 'We are now in the final stage of implementing a multi-tiered levy mechanism (MTLM) where employers pay more if they hire more foreign workers,' he said. According to the 13MP, the additional levy collections from the MTLM will be channelled into a newly established trust fund to promote automation and mechanisation.
