KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional should call the 15th General Election (GE15) soon as they do not hold the legitimate mandate of the people, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Opposition Parti Warisan president said it was best for Barisan to call GE15 immediately to allow the people to decide on their choice of party to govern the country.
Shafie said the general election was long overdue and should have been after the "Sheraton move" where breakaway Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took over the government with help from Barisan.
"Barisan does not have the people's mandate. A general election must be called to let the people decide," Shafie said on Sunday (April 17) when asked to comment on indications that an election would be held with the ending of an MOU between the government and Pakatan Harapan on July 31.
Speaking to reporters after attending a breaking of fast event at Sepanggar here, Shafie said Warisan was also concerned as the people's support for the Opposition in GE14 might erode because of the events of the Sheraton Move and the subsequent MOU.
"We are concerned some people might be losing confidence in us. People say we voted for you and then you give it to Barisan," said Shafie, whose party, Warisan, stayed out of the MOU with the government.
He said Warisan was ready for the election and it was best to leave it to the people to decide.
He said since the Sheraton move, the country has remained politically unstable and lacked international investor confidence.
On whether his party was planning to forge partners under a coalition for the election, he reiterated that Warisan was at present strengthening itself to ensure it defended its seats as well as identifying winnable seats.
"When we are ready, we will see about partners for a coalition," he said, adding that there was no guarantee that the coalition could ensure victory.
He said in the recent Johor state election, Pakatan and Muda worked together but could not win the state.