Hamzah expects Anwar to call GE16 by August next year amid Pakatan-Umno tensions

In an interview, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin suggested that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may call the 16th general election by August 2024, due to increasing tensions between Pakatan Harapan and Umno.

Hamzah indicated that scrutiny of court cases involving Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could further destabilize the unity government.

Furthermore, he noted that the proposed 2027 Budget, with increased funding for the Election Commission, might be a precursor to the election.

Although the next general election is not required until February 2028, Anwar has expressed openness to holding it earlier.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to call the 16th general election by August next year, citing growing tensions between Pakatan Harapan and Umno, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).

Speaking in an interview with BFM Radio, Hamzah said the unity government might struggle to remain intact beyond 2027, pointing to renewed scrutiny of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court cases by PH lawmakers.

Hamzah, who leads Wawasan, suggested that the growing friction between the two political blocs could prompt Anwar to call an election before the coalition government fractures.

“I think they have already started to break up. So he has to call (for an election) before that,” he was quoted as saying.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers decided in January to take no further action on 47 charges involving corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering against Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman.

The decision drew criticism from DAP leaders, FMT reported.

Hamzah also suggested Anwar could capitalise on the 2027 SEA Games to build public support before calling an election immediately after the sporting event, scheduled for September 18 to 29.

“Whether it will happen or not, I don’t know. I’m not very sure about that,” he said, as reported by FMT.

He also pointed to the 2027 Budget, which he said contained numerous benefits for the public, as well as a substantial increase in funding for the Election Commission, as possible indications that a general election was approaching.

The EC’s allocation under the recently tabled 2027 Budget rose to RM367 million, compared with RM167 million allocated the previous year.

The next general election must be held by February 2028. Anwar said last month that he was open to considering calls for an early election.

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反对党领袖拿督斯里韩查再努丁在接受采访时表示，由于希盟和巫统之间的紧张关系日益加剧，首相拿督斯里安瓦尔易卜拉欣可能会在2024年8月之前举行第16届全国大选。

韩查表示，对涉及巫统主席拿督斯里艾哈迈德扎希德哈米迪的法庭案件进行审查可能会进一步破坏联合政府的稳定。

此外，他还指出，拟议的 2027 年预算增加了对选举委员会的拨款，这可能是选举的前兆。

虽然下届大选要到 2028 年 2 月才需要举行，但安华已表示愿意提前举行。

吉隆坡，10月20日——据今日自由马来西亚（FMT）报道，反对党领袖拿督斯里哈姆扎再努丁预计总理拿督斯里安瓦尔易卜拉欣将在明年8月之前召开第16届全国大选，理由是希盟和巫统之间的紧张关系日益加剧。

哈姆扎在接受 BFM 电台采访时表示，团结政府可能难以维持到 2027 年以后，他指出希望联盟议员重新审视了巫统主席拿督斯里阿末扎希哈米迪的法庭案件。

领导“希望党”的哈姆扎表示，两大政治集团之间日益加剧的摩擦可能会促使安华在联合政府瓦解之前举行大选。

“我认为他们已经开始分裂了。所以他必须在此之前（举行选举）。”他被引述说。

今年一月，总检察署决定不再对扎希德（同时也是国民阵线主席）提出的 47 项指控采取进一步行动，这些指控涉及贪污、刑事失信和洗钱。

据FMT报道，该决定招致了民主行动党领导人的批评。

哈姆扎还建议安华可以利用 2027 年东南亚运动会来争取公众支持，然后在运动会结束后立即举行选举。该运动会定于 9 月 18 日至 29 日举行。

据FMT报道，他说：“这件事会不会发生，我不知道。我对此不太确定。”

他还指出，2027 年预算包含许多惠及公众的福利，并大幅增加了选举委员会的拨款，这可能表明大选即将到来。

根据最近提交的 2027 年预算案，执行委员会的拨款增加到 3.67 亿令吉，而上一年的拨款为 1.67 亿令吉。

下届大选必须在2028年2月之前举行。安华上个月表示，他愿意考虑提前举行大选的呼吁。

淡马鲁警方捣毁四个与彭亨州东海岸铁路（ECRL）和马来西亚电信（TM）电缆盗窃案有关的团伙。

在塔塞克格鲁戈尔，一名10个月大的男婴在保姆照看下死亡后，保姆被拘留。

槟城警方逮捕六名男子，他们涉嫌在雪兰莪州虐待一名印尼女子。