Simultaneous GE and Sarawak polls: Anything is possible, says Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is maintaining a guessing game whether the 13th general election will be held simultaneously with the Sarawak state election.

“Can you wait and see. I will consider anything. Anything is possible,” he said when asked on the possibility of the two elections being held together

Asked further by reporters after he had launched the 1 Malaysia Youth Fund here today whether Barisan Nasional (BN) was ready to face the two elections at one go, Najib, who is also BN chairman, said: “In an election anything can happen.”

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has been reported as saying that he would discuss with Najib on the possibility of having the 13th general election and and the Sarawak state election, which must be called by July, together.

The 13th general election needs only be called in 2013.

On the Merlimau state seat in Malacca, Najib said a by-election for it could not be avoided.

“No matter, we will face it when the Election Commission calls a by-election for the seat. I am confident Malacca BN is well prepared for the by-election,” he said.

The incumbent, Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, of the BN, died of heart failure at the Putra Specialist Hospital in Malacca yesterday.

Touching on the success of Malaysian naval commandos in an anti-piracy operation off Somalia yesterday, the prime minister said he was proud of them for rescuing a Malaysian chemical tanker and arresting seven pirates.

“I extend congratulations over their bravery from the government and people of Malaysia,” he said, adding that the government was now going through international laws to bring the pirates to Malaysia to be brought to justice.

It was reported that commandos from a Royal Malaysian Navy auxiliary ship had successfully rescued a hijacked Malaysian chemical tanker and its crew from Somali pirates early yesterday.

The Shipborne Protection Team, comprising special forces from the combined Armed Forces tri-services, managed to save 23 crew and the tanker which was carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride worth an estimated RM30 million. — Bernama