Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin said the 13th general election would not be held next year as this year would be the most suitable time for it.         

"I don't think the wait will go into next year. However, it depends on the prime minister, but I've told him that this year is the best time (to hold the elections).     

"We're now going into the fasting month (Ramadan). Some people have asked whether the general election would be held during the fasting month.

“I said, 'What's wrong? And what's wrong during the Raya month (Syawal)?' After that, there's the Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. Then when the time comes, we'll have our elections," he said.

Muhyiddin also said he would meet with the problematic Umno divisions during Ramadan to thrash out the problems.     

Muhyiddin who is also deputy prime minister, said problematic Umno divisions were not many but he would use the meetings to also remind the division leaders and members on the importance of avoiding things that could weaken the party.     

"If there are problems in a division, all quarters from the top to the grassroots should work together to solve the problems amicably to ensure Barisan Nasional's victory in the coming general election," he said in his speech when opening the annual delegates' meeting of the Batu Umno division, Kuala Lumpur, today.     

Also present were division chairman Yahaya Mat Ghani and Federal Territory (FT) Umno liaison secretary, Syed Ali Alhabshee.

'No more sabotage please'

Muhyiddin who is also FT Umno liaison chairman, said he had already informed Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that he would meet up with the problematic divisions to discuss the issues with an open heart.

    

"We have 220 parliamentary constituencies and we know the situation in each. It's normal for each constituency to have one or two problems," he said.     

Muhyiddin said each parliamentary and state seat contested were important to win back BN's lost power in some states in the last general election in 2008.     

He said he did not want what happened in the last elections where BN's loss was due to "cah keting" or sabotage by Umno members themselves rather than the strength of the opposition, to recur this time.     

Muhyiddin also suggested that BN component party leaders identify the wants and problems faced by non-Malay voters for further action to be taken.         

At the same event, Muhyiddin also handed out keys to 12 recipients of the Public Housing Project (PPR) houses and equipment to start a business to three of the 69 recipients.     

- Bernama