U.S. SWORD OF DAMOCLES HANGS OVER NAJIB’S HEAD, BOOST FOR RIVALS WITHIN UMNO LIKE ZAHID
There has been much talk of the General Election coming sooner than expected, what with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak asking his constituents in Pekan to return him to Parliament with a huge majority of 40,000 votes at the next general election.
Within the Opposition parties infighting still happening and Umno having cracks, what will GE be like for the parties if it was called now?
Although for a short period of time it looked promising for BN to secure its win if the PM called for a snap general election, especially after its win in Sarawak, Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, the opposition says that may not be the case anymore.
Says Amanah Strategy Director Dzulkefly Ahmad, it is not likely that the PM will announce a general election and may even sit out to its full term.
“Maybe a month ago, he (Najib) would have done so, but that is before the US’s DOJ (Department of Justice) announcement of its suit against 1MDB,” says Dzulkefly.
He says that Najib would ensure that he has all the support in the party before he decides to call a general election.
“It really depends on how much support he still has within the party and if the party is willing to ‘save’ him as well or get rid of him entirely,” says Dzulkefly, stating that Najib may even be working out a succession plan before a GE.
On the opposition parties, Dzulkefly says that it wold not be right to put Amanah and Bersatu on the same footing.
“Some may say the situation with Amanah and Pas is the same as Bersatu (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia), but it isn’t. They didn’t split because of ideology, they split because they is a challenge in leadership.
“While it does not look like as if the Opposition is ready for a general election, I wouldn’t say that, if it happens, we just need to be ready for it.
“But we will have a consolation and that is Umno-BN being at its weakest now,” he says.
He adds that an early general election also needs to happen to save the country’s existing ties with foreign investors.
“I’ve been speaking to a lot of friends outside of the country and most of them have lost confidence investing in Malaysia.
“They are all holding back until the country until they are certain that the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) scandal is resolved.
“Until then, the country will continue to suffer and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible before we lose all our good ties with the foreign investors who once saw potential in Malaysia as an investment,” he adds.
Meanwhile, independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng says that the question needs to be asked to the PM himself, as to whether the country will see an early general election.
“Only he (Najib) knows and only he can call for one. If he doesn’t see that the general election would benefit him, why would he call for one?
“As much as the people need a new government, the ball is in his (Najib) hands, and only he has the power to announce an early election,” says Khoo. – http://ift.tt/2bPZZcF
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from Malaysia Chronicle http://ift.tt/2caEKqK
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