Ahmad said it was not wise to hold elections amid the current global economic environment which is expected to affect the people, adding that the state polls could be held when things “calm down”.

The Johor Umno deputy chairman said he would table his proposal at the Umno Supreme Council meeting this Friday, Berita Harian reported.

“When such geopolitical developments arise, it will affect the cost of living and price of goods, so we shouldn’t be holding elections at such a time.

“I want to propose that once these problems are over, then we can hold the state elections,” he was quoted as saying.

The Pontian MP said he previously suggested holding the Melaka and Johor state elections simultaneously to save costs.

The Melaka and Johor state polls must take place by February and June 2027, respectively. Both state governments are led by Umno.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a state of emergency was declared in Sarawak in 2021 to allow for its 12th state assembly election to be postponed, to prevent further spread of the virus.

The state of emergency was supposed to last until February 2022 but was lifted by the king in November 2021 after the Covid-19 situation eased, allowing the Sarawak polls to be held in December 2021.