‘Party understands pushing for early polls during pandemic could cost votes’ Pix for representational purpose only. PETALING JAYA : Umno’s decision not to push for early elections and to remain in Perikatan Nasional (PN) for now is a step towards self-preservation, say political analysts. The party understands that pushing for early polls in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic could cost it votes. “This was obviously the case in the Sabah state elections in September last year,” Malaysian Council of Professors senior fellow Dr Jeniri Amir told theSun yesterday. During the height of the power tussle in Sabah last year, sitting chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal decided to call for snap state elections, only to lose power. The polls caused a surge in infections that eventually spread across the country.