Dr M tells Najib to delay polls, as racial divide widens
(The Malaysian Insider) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak should only call for general elections next year as there is currently too much racial division in the country, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said today.
Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered historic losses in the 2008 elections, losing its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states in a result that was widely blamed on splits within the dominant Malay demographic and dissatisfaction among Chinese and Indian voters.
“It (national polls) shouldn’t be this year, but it’s up to the PM, sometimes I forget I’m no longer PM,” he told reporters today.
Dr Mahathir said he was concerned that Malaysians were now even more divided than ever, and that this had never happened when he was prime minister.
“I feel people are still divided, racial division at its peak.
“Last time, the Chinese had no problem with BN. In 1999, with Anwar’s black eye, the opposition got Malay support, but the Chinese supported BN. We still had two-thirds back then,” he explained.
Najib recently hinted in a speech to Selangor Umno that the next general election is “just around the corner”.
The Malaysian Insider understands, however, that Najib is likely to delay snap polls until the end of this year or early 2012 as his party hunts for funds to finance a campaign to court Bumiputera and Indian voters and secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
