GUA MUSANG: The move by the Umno Supreme Council to hasten the holding of the 15th General Election (GE15) may be "fatal" to the party if its election machinery is not prepared for the polls.

Party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah or Ku Li fears Umno would end up losing badly if its election machinery is not prepared to face GE15.

"If we are not prepared, It seems as though we are looking for death. We don't want to be in a losing election. If we lose this year, we are in big trouble.

"We do not want such a thing to happen to our party. This is the party of hope for the Malays. We cannot allow the Malays, the largest group of Malaysians, to suddenly find that the party has lost its influence and position. 

"What more, the Malays are a divided a lot. So where is our strength," he said after opening the Kesedar Cultural Art Appreciation Night 2022, here, last night.

The Gua Musang Member of Parliament added that holding the GE15 in the monsoon season should not be done, as logically the monsoon could pose a threat to the country and the people.

"A decision (GE15) such as this, I think we have to act on it logically and should be based on a firm basis. We can't just follow (our) impulse (in deciding on GE15).

"We ourselves want to run, want to save ourselves (in the monsoon). How do you expect to hold an election ?

"We also urge the people to save themselves. Do they (the people) want to think of voting in the midst of having to find a high, a safe place and so on," he said.

Ku Li also said that the move to nominate party leaders who are involved in court cases as candidates in GE15 would also tarnish Umno's image.

"Such an action shows that members do not love the party. There are still many fresh faces that can be put forward.

"I don't have the power to decide, but if we look at it from a general point of view, it's not worth it. It's not good, it shows that we don't love the party.

"Such a presence (those facing court cases) may affect the image of the party itself. People laugh, people talk, I think we have many people who can be put forward," he said.

Umno Supreme Council in its meeting last night reiterated that it remained consistent with its stance that GE15 must be called by the end of this year

Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the party wants Parliament to be dissolved soon to make way for the polls.

"Based on such a decision, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) will (seek an audience and present) the proposed date of the Parliament's dissolution with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"This is in line with Article 40(1) of the Federal Constitution," Ahmad said when reading a media statement.

He, however, did not disclose the proposed date of Dewan Rakyat's dissolution.