BN optimistic but no polls till March
Federal Minister Peter Chin recalled that similar rallies in 1998 after the DPM Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking, had not dented support for BN.
(Bernama) – The Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat rally organised by opposition parties at Stadium Merdeka yesterday will not influence support for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 13th general election.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Peter Chin Fah Kui said the estimated crowd turnout of between 50,000 to 60,000 should not be a yardstick of the support towards the opposition.
“BN should not be afraid, when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from the cabinet in 1998, there were similar rallies with 50,000 to 60,000 attending but support towards BN remained intact,” he told reporters after visiting a Miri Home for the Aged, a privately run senior citizen care centre, in conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year celebration here today.
Chin, who is Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, said rather than resorting to street demonstrations, Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan) should try to go to the ground always and explain to the people of their ability.
“I hope PR (Pakatan) can stop street demonstrations. It’s not the Malaysian way, what kind of message they are trying to pass or the result they want to achieve. Go to the ground and tell the people who will be the Prime Minister if PR (Pakatan) win the general election, they can’t even tell people that,” he said.
Asked whether he had any indication of when the parliament would be dissolved, Chin who is also Miri Member of Parliament (MP) said it is unlikely to be this month or next month.
“The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are now actively going to the ground to assess the political situation and with Chinese New Year around the corner it would not be possible to hold an election,” he said.
He said the date for the election was an open secret to the public since the current term of the government would expire on April 28 this year.
With Chinese New Year to be celebrated on Feb 10 and 11, as well as many financial assistance to be handed out between now and March, many had speculated that the Prime Minister would likely dissolve parliament in March, one month ahead of the expiry term.
Political observers have speculated that parliament would be dissolved in the first week of March with voting expected to be held by end of the month.
