`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Friday, September 21, 2012

Another BIG BLUFF: No GE13 in Nov this year, will be in 2013


Another BIG BLUFF: No GE13 in Nov this year, will be in 2013
News that the Umno general assembly would be held from Nov 27 to Dec 1, while party polls would be deferred until after the country's much-awaited general elections has set off talk that Prime Minister Najib Razak had again changed his mind and would only call for the national ballot next year.
"Frankly, it has to be next year. Umno infighting is too strong and worrying," PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dzulkefly Ahmad told Malaysia Chronicle.
Big bluff
The 59-year-old Najib has exasperated the nation by refusing to be pinned down on the timing of the 13th general elections or GE13.
He had recently hinted that it could be in November, mentioning the number 11 and that GE13 was imminent. Eleven is Najib's favorite number and November is the 11th month in the calendar. His camp even leaked news the second week of the month had been reserved and schools had been told to prepare their premises for the Election Commission to use as polling stations.
However, with the latest announcement of the Umno assembly dates, it looks like another "big bluff" to appease his rivals within Umno who have been demanding for earlier polls. In particular, his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin - who is expected to challenge him for the Umno presidency - has been pushing for snap polls to be held as early as this month.
Najib has until April 28, 2013 to dissolve Parliament and call for elections. If he doesn't, Parliament will automatically dissolve on April 29, and the Election Commission obliged to fix a date within the following 2 months.
Unhappy Umno warlords including Mahathir
Many political observers have predicted a February or March GE13. Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali recently expressed confidence that the polls would only be held in 2013 after the Chinese Lunar New Year so that Najib and his BN coalition could work on regaining the Chinese vote. Many had then wondered if Ibrahim was speaking for Perkasa patron Mahathir Mohamad when he made his 'prediction'.
On Thursday, Mahathir had said the BN would "most likely" win the federal government but achieve weaker results than in 2008. During the 12th general elections, the Umno-led BN had lost 82 of the 222 seats in Parliament to the Opposition, thereby surrendering for the first time its long-held two-thirds majority in the august House.
Mahathir had appeared none too pleased with Najib, describing the latter's administration as being "weak". His comments were sharp and double-edged, such as Najib had "a lot of money and he's giving it away". Mahathir also admitted that this was "very close" to vote-buying.
The 87-year-old Mahathir is believed to have thrown his support behind Muhyiddin, and most Malaysians expect Najib to step down in his deputy's favor after GE13.
"In my opinion, BN will most likely win, but it will be weak without the strong majority in Parliament," Mahathir had said at the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum 2012 on Thursday.
"This means the federal government's authority will remain weak like it is now. This would hamper development and be bad for business," he warned. The ideal situation would be a two-thirds majority in Parliament, otherwise it will be like now, where BN is fighting to survive."
Postponed
Meanwhile, Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the party's five-day assembly would begin with the presidential briefing on Nov 27, followed by the official opening of the assemblies for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings at night.
"From Nov 28 to Dec 1, the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings will have their assemblies while the Umno General Assembly will be held from Nov 29 until Dec 1," he told reporters after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato' Onn.
Najib also said that as of Sept 18, a total of 176 divisions had held their meetings while the remaining 15 divisions were expected to do so during the weekend.
When asked whether the party election would be held at the forthcoming Umno general assembly, Najib had replied: "Party election is postponed until after the general election."
Malaysia Chronicle

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.