TELUK INTAN: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hinted that the 14th General Election (GE14) will likely be held before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Speaking at the Semarak Maahabah programme at Sekolah Menengah Agama Maahad Al-Islah in Sungai Manik here today, the deputy prime minister said there would be a “big occasion” before the Aidilfitri celebration.
"We will have three festivals... Chinese New Year has just passed, we will celebrate Hari Raya Haji. But before we celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we will have one big celebration," he said.
Also present at the event were Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who is also Pasir Salak member of parliament.
On February 2, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave the strongest hint yet that he GE14 will be held before July 14.
At a Haj-related event in Putraya, Najib had said that the pilgrims would witness two ‘raya’ occasions before performing their Haj.
“July 14 means that two occasions would have passed, one being Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the other being another ‘hari raya’.”
“You will depart (for Mecca) after the other ‘raya’,” he said.
The recipients are scheduled to leave for Mecca on July 14, and the general election must be held by Aug 24. Hari Raya Haji falls on Aug 21.