The caretaker PM also dismisses the allegation that the dissolution decision is meant to free Umno’s court cluster

by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / pic BERNAMA

CARETAKER Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (picture) denied that he is pressured by any political party that forces him to dissolve the Parliament on Monday.

He said even though there was certain pressure from Umno regarding the dissolution of Parliament following Barisan Nasional’s victories in both the Melaka and Johor state elections, he did not follow the party’s wishes.

“Umno has spoken about the dissolution for a long time, after Johor state election and during the Umno assembly. So, if I am being pressured, I would have done it long time ago. But the question was of timing and I have not planned yet in terms of the exact date.

“But when the issue such as a letter to Agong cropped up, I saw that the government could not go on, and as such, I dissolved Parliament,” he told the media after launching the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway today.

The Bera MP added that the accusations by rival parties that the decision for a snap election was meant to free Umno’s court cluster from facing possible jail time were baseless.

He said the Opposition should be happy and thankful to him for expediting the election by giving the mandate to the people, allowing them to choose a new government.

“The longer the current government stays, the more accusations of us being an illegitimate one will arise.

“If they feel our legitimacy is doubtful, by right they should have been happy when I announced the dissolution,” Ismail Sabri noted.