KUALA LUMPUR: The possibility of snap polls was discussed at Umno's supreme council meeting on Tuesday night (June 16), says party secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

"But we discussed it in general terms, nothing specific," he said shortly after the conclusion of the supreme council meeting.

He said snap polls could be an option to counter Pakatan Harapan's talk of regaining power.

The Pakatan government collapsed on Feb 24 after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tendered his resignation as prime minister.

Following that, Perikatan Nasional came to power on March 1 when Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia was sworn in as Prime Minister with the support of Umno, MCA, MIC, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, PBS, STAR and PBRS.

Annuar said Umno had to be prepared for any eventuality, as Pakatan kept insisting that it had the numbers to return to power.

For Pakatan to return to power, its prime minister candidate must command the confidence of at least 112 parliamentarians.

Annuar, also a supreme council member and Federal Territories Minister, said Umno also discussed what would need to be done to strengthen the party's position and set the policy direction for the sake of the Malays and Islam.

On whether the council discussed seat allocations since Bersatu was lobbying to contest 50 parliamentary seats, Annuar reiterated that the meeting did not discuss specific matters.

"These are all mere speculation. It is not an issue warranting detailed discussions at this point in time," he said.

Annuar also denied speculation that the Umno supreme council would be discussing the possibility of Bersatu joining the Muafakat Nasional pact.

He said such matters would likely be discussed during the Muafakat Nasional steering committee meeting on Thursday (June 18).

On the Chini by-election, Annuar said he hoped others would not contest the seat to avoid the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi also did not discount the possibility of snap polls.

"If possible, we want to avoid polls in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. But we need to be prepared for any eventuality," he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/17/possibility-of-snap-polls-discussed-at-umno-supreme-council-meeting