KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional (BN) expects the 15th General Election (GE) to be held this year.
The coalition's chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said this was based on several indications.
In addition, he said there were also concerns that if the general election was delayed, the opportunity for BN to carry GE15 would be missed because of issues created by the opposition.
"We have discussed with the 'top five', including the Prime Minister (PM) who is also the Umno Vice President. My reading is that the election would be held this year. From what I read of the PM's (position), I believe he will listen to our advice and views.
"He (the PM) as a party member and as a leader certainly knows that it is appropriate (for GE15 to be held soon) because issues will continue to arise and the opposition will instill a culture of hatred against our party," he said.
Zahid said this in his speech at the closing ceremony of the BN Women's Convention at the World Trade Centre today.
Also present were MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and MIC President Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and representatives of BN component parties and Friends of BN.
Zahid, who is Umno president, said he was aware that the opposition was creating issues to discredit BN.
The latest being the issue involving the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) littoral combat ship (LCS) in a similar vein as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue in GE14 .
However, he said the issue had been responded to quickly by the BN social media team and the momentum needs to be continued by the party's social media team, including Wanita BN.
"RMN has also responded and even the Defence Minister has taken the media to explain this LCS ship issue himself.
"Is it logical that they say the ship has become invisible? They said that the inaugurated LCS is a model ship made of wood. I used to be the Defence Minister. I know this issue.
"I was challenged because it was claimed that submarines could not dive. I brought it to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA) and invited Lim Guan Eng to see it for himself.
"However, after experiencing the submarine, he said nothing and this shows that the opposition creates a negative perception of the government," he said.
He urged BN members who have social media account to use it to respond immediately to negative perceptions so that they can be eliminated and not influence voters.
"Don't take the attitude of waiting and let it go viral, but immediately answer the issue. I have seen many who, when they get information, share it with friends but don't answer and defend the party," he said.
The Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament said similarly the issue of political funding that was raised in court, only one person was prosecuted. Even though there were many who were said to had received monies, including the Prime Minister who governed for 22 months and the Prime Minister who served for 17 months.
Zahid also thanked BN component parties, who remained steadfast in the coalition in good and bad times.
Meanwhile, he warned of the many issues that will be raised by the opposition ahead of the upcoming general election.
"There are so many issues in their deposit and now, after their 'defamation king' is back as the Deputy President, they will raise issues and 'troll' the social media.
Therefore, he urged all component party machinery to respond to the issues raised immediately.
"It is no use if we work hard but are late in fending off negative issues for the party. We do not want these negative issues to be taken in by the voters.
"I call on everyone to be more social media savvy and help overcome this so that voters are not confused and end up not voting for us in GE15," he said.