Call for GE16 to be held as soon as possible: A flip flop? — Hafiz Hassan

On September 14, a proposal was raised for a new law that would keep the government in power for a full five-year term. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made the suggestion on January 13, 2024. The next day, Project SAMA, an NGO advocating for political stability and accountability, endorsed the idea. They urged the government to adopt a Fixed Term Parliament Act (FTPA), which was promised by the ruling party in the 2024 general election and supported by 33 NGOs and 52 individuals.

The following day, Pontian MP and Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan also backed the proposed law. Within hours, Azalina Othman Said, the de facto law minister, announced that the government was considering enacting an FTPA and would conduct a thorough study, including an impact study and public opinion gathering. The minister stated that the fixed-term system was implemented in many countries to ensure political and economic stability and prevent any seizure of power that might harm the country's parliamentary democracy.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for the 16th General Election (GE16) to be held as soon as possible, stating that it was time for Barisan Nasional (BN) to seek a fresh mandate to lead the country. Two months later, when asked about the government's plans to enact an FTPA, Azalina confirmed that the government was still in the study phase, taking into account the results of stakeholder and public engagements.

However, on September 11, Ahmad Zahid, as the president of Umno, reversed his stance and called for the 16th General Election (GE16) to be held as soon as possible, urging BN to seek a new mandate to lead the nation. This decision has sparked discussions about the party's changing priorities and intentions.