SEREMBAN: The suggestion for the 15th General Election (GE15) to be held soon is not made in the interests of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) but to ensure the government is one that is elected through the ballot box, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic).

       The Umno deputy president said this, in turn, would give the confidence needed to many parties, including foreign investors, on the back of a stable government and political landscape.

       "Don’t assume that when I called for a general election (to be held soon), it is because we just won the election (Melaka) on Saturday (Nov 20).

       "It is because we want to return the mandate to the people,” he told reporters after officiating at the state-level 2021 National Youth Day celebrations here Monday (Nov 22).

       Mohamad was responding to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s statement earlier Monday, saying that PAS would not be urging for GE15 anytime soon, besides also pointing out that such a decision should only be determined by the Cabinet and not political parties.

       On Sunday (Nov 21), Mohamad, who is also Rantau assemblyman, said it was only appropriate that GE15 be held in the near future to get a fresh mandate from the people. - Bernama