PAS agrees GE16 should be called early, says Tuan Ibrahim

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has expressed support for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's stance that the next general election (GE16) should be called early. Speaking at a press conference, Tuan Ibrahim argued that this would refresh the mandate with the people and enable them to elect a new government amidst the nation's unstable political climate. He emphasized the need to break free from the present political predicament.

Earlier in the day, Zahid had suggested that Barisan Nasional and Umno would be amenable to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim initiating GE16 prematurely, rather than waiting for the automatic dissolution of Parliament at the close of the next year. Should Anwar choose to extend the government’s five-year term, Umno would be prepared to proceed.

Tuan Ibrahim suggested that several states could concurrently hold elections alongside GE16, thereby cutting costs for the Election Commission. He noted that Malaysians have endured prolonged politicking for an extended period, and they are now fatigued. "We have been in this situation for over a year," he told reporters. "The people are tired of it."

Regarding the Melaka state election, Tuan Ibrahim expressed optimism that the PAS and Umno negotiators would succeed in settling the seat allocation issue. While PAS adheres to its youth wing's demand to defend its existing Melaka seats, ongoing negotiations with PAS's allies aim to prevent conflicts between parties. For Tuan Ibrahim, consensus is vital, and all parties must agree to reach a resolution. Minimizing disputes is the utmost priority.