Even if Jamal Yunos says otherwise.
A message currently making the rounds, which says Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called all of the party’s division chiefs to urge the prime minister to dissolve Parliament, is fake, Umno secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said.
Despite this, Sungai Besar Umno chief, Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos had said this was exactly what was said during the emergency meeting at the party’s headquarters this morning.
Jamal told reporters that all division leaders present during the party’s emergency meeting today unanimously urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call a general election.
He said that Ahmad Zahid will convey the message to Ismail Sabri today.
“All division leaders have agreed to expedite calling a general election and it must happen as soon as possible,” he said.
In the message which Ahmad Maslan said was fake, one of the alleged points made was to also dismiss Ismail Sabri should he resist the demand to dissolve Parliament.
Jamal also said the last-minute meeting of all division chiefs was attended by 158 leaders, excluding some from Sabah. Umno has 191 divisions nationwide.
Asked if there was any compulsion for the Prime Minister to call for the election, Jamal said there was none.
Jamal also denied that there was any discussion of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ongoing SRC International appeal at the Federal Court.
He said it was not even brought up in the meeting.
He, however, confirmed that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan were present.
He added that Ismail Sabri and Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid, who are party vice-presidents, did not attend as they had other matters to attend to.
It was earlier reported that party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan sent out the invitations late last night, with the agenda being to discuss a “very important matter affecting the party’s future”.
While the agenda of the meeting was kept confidential, it was believed to be on the general election as well as on matters pertaining to Najib Razak’s final appeal of the SRC International case.