KUALA LUMPUR: The rain has yet to stop since morning and Umno and its president would have to brave the flash floods that might take place, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli tweeted in Bahasa Melayu today.

"Itu kalau ada PRU la. Kalau setakat banjir pandai2 sendiri la (However, that's only if there's a general election. Otherwise, you are on your own)."

Rafizi was referring to Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's battle call that the coalition was willing to brave the floods and heavy rain to face the 15th General Election.

Rafizi was among many opposition politicians who criticised the season. 

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said Umno usually avoided holding an election during floods due to several factors, including safety, health and human resources.

He said many people would have to be deployed during the monsoon season to handle temporary evacuation centres, flood victims and keep the people safe.

Lim said many evacuation centres would be in schools, which would be booked as polling centres.

"Also, floods would usually see the spread of infectious and waterborne diseases, which would require intervention from the Health Ministry, apart from other cases like injuries, flu and fever.

"Is Khairy (Jamaluddin) the lone voice among Umno ministers or leaders who dares to disagree with Zahid (and state) that the 15th General Election should not be held during the flood season?"

He was referring to the health minister's view that it was not conducive to hold the polls during the rainy season.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, however, said that while polls should not held during the floods, it could be done before the monsoon season.

Asyraf said since the Malaysian Meteorological Department had predicted that a major flood would occur at the end of November, a general election could be held before the floods.

"For example, if Parliament is dissolved in early October, then GE15 could and would be held in early November, which is two to three weeks before the heavy rains start."

He said based on GE14, the Election Commission could hold the election within a month of the house's dissolution.

"Parliament was dissolved on April 7, 2018, and the EC held the GE on May 8 (in less than four weeks).

"We still have time. And we can hold the election before the flood season if Parliament is dissolved in early October."