With one of Umno’s “star campaigners” in jail and out of action, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob - under increasing internal pressure to dissolve parliament - is faced with a difficult decision that could determine not only BN’s fate in the next 15th general election (GE15) but possibly his own position.

On the one hand, analysts said acceding to demands from Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for polls to be held this year could help Ismail Sabri to placate the party’s grassroots, who appear confident of victory based on BN’s success in past state elections.

However, they note that opting to “buy time” until next year could potentially see Ismail Sabri...