Prime Minister Najib Razak has given his strongest hint so far,
telling an Umno meeting in Sabah that the 13th general election might
well be in November this year.
“Six times 11 equals 66, five times 11 equals 55 and 2 times 11
equals 22. The 11 factor appears in all, it is unique and good,” Najib
told Umno members in Sandakan during a visit to the state.
Najib did not specifically mention November, the 11th month in the calendar, but Umno-owned newspaper Utusan screamed out the headlines PRU13 November? (13th general election in November?).
Landmark battle
Despite
the clue, Najib – known for his frequent U-turns – failed to excite the
nation which has been waiting impatiently for what they believe will be
a landmark battle.
Indeed, many experts have predicted a regime change – the first in
Malaysia’s 55 year-history – with control of the federal government
passing over to the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar
Ibrahim.
According to Pakatan leaders, it no longer mattered when Najib held
the GE13 as the BN’s 5-year mandate would expire on 27 March 2013 and
Parliament would be automatically dissolved, paving the way for
nationwide polls within the following 2 months.
“We are ready for battle even if GE13 is in September, it is Najib
and BN who fear the people’s anger now. Their latest strategy is to
accuse the Pakatan of all sorts of nonsense including changing the
Malaysian flag and turning the country into a republic,” PKR vice
president and Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
“This time because the stakes are so high and Najib and his ministers
are personally launching the attacks, we predict the backlash will be
Umno’s final ‘own goal’. They will destroy themselves by disgusting the
people beyond the point of return.”
Devil politics and the last lap of Evil
Past top leaders including former premiers Mahathir Mohamad and
Abdullah Badawi too have sounded the war drums as they sought to help
their party defend its share of the Malay votes from the increasingly
popular PAS and PKR.
Mahathir recently overstepped himself when he alluded to the BN’s
rule as being “the Devil you know” rather than “the Angel that you don’t
know”. That unguarded remark had Muslim scholars condemning him for
encouraging the people to support the Devil, which is against Islam.
And although Mahathir has insisted he was speaking metaphorically,
few Malaysians are amused. Most do think badly of him for his racist and
even ‘evil’ policies, and hence they view him as being closer to the
Devil than the Angel.
However, even Umno watchers believe that Najib might be pulling
another ‘fast one’ with his November hint. Those close to him concede
that he had yet to finalize his decision.
“PM has been advised to look at some windows that will enable him to
call for GE. With the thunderous support before and after our 55th year
Merdeka celebration plus the excellent report by the Economist
Consultant, it is the right time for GE-13. But he wants to wait for the
World Bank/IMF report on Malaysia’s performance and forecast. Possible
date just after Budget 2013 which is to be presented on September 28 but
before end November, for sure,” an Umno veteran told Malaysia Chronicle.
Another ‘fast one’?
The PM and his lieutenants have previously tried to appease their own
party warlords by promising snap polls to be held from as far back as
in April 2011, November 2011, March/April 2012, July 2012, September
2012 and now November 2012.
Other Umno leaders and chieftains including Mahathir and Deputy Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin – frustrated at Najib’s delaying – have
publicly expressed the wish for an earlier ballot.
Many Malaysians now believe Najib will only hold elections in January
or February 2013. Most have already made up their minds and are
unlikely to be swayed by further politicking. It is obvious to the
nation that Umno and BN will not be able to deliver the reforms the
country needs.
“Najib wants to delay as he knows even if BN wins, he will have to
give up the PM’s chair in favor of Muhyiddin or some other leader who
has the support of Mahathir and the other Umno warlords. Najib has
proven he cannot do the job. Even Badawi was better. Najib is merely
holding on, partly to buy time and to enjoy to the maximum the official
perks that come with the PM’s chair, such as the overseas trips and
holidays,” said Tian.
“It doesn’t matter to him that the longer the wait, the bigger the
chances are for BN to lose. Even the Singapore media has commented he
should be more decisive or face elections when the economy is sinking.
That is a slap in the face as it shows not only Malaysians are fed up,
even the foreign community thinks poorly of his indecisiveness.”
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