BAGAN DATUK: The top leadership and supreme council of Umno will study all proposals put forward by its divisions, especially on the motion to hold the general election earlier and party election, says its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       He said the party’s headquarters would look into the number of divisions calling for early general election.

       “All proposals will be collated before being presented to the top five party leaders for us to table them to the Umno supreme council before any decision can be taken,” he said.

       Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Bagan Datuk MP, was speaking at a media conference after officiating the 2021 Bagan Datuk Umno division delegates’ meeting yesterday, Bernama reported.

       Meanwhile, he said Umno was placing its confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also the party vice-president, to make a decision on holding the 15th general election (GE15) based on the resolutions decided by the supreme council.

       Ahmad Zahid said the resolution would be based on the voices of the grassroots including members of the Youth and Puteri wings, which have proposed that GE15 be held earlier before the term of Parliament ends in 2023.

       He said 176 Umno Youth divisions as well as 171 Puteri Umno divisions from the total 191 divisions nationwide agreed with the proposal.

       In this regard, Ahmad Zahid said the delay in holding GE15 would make it difficult for Umno to fend off various allegations and slander as it happened in GE14.

       “Many including voters would believe them and the government would find it hard to defend.”