GE-13 will be in Nov and not next year, Pakatan leaders warn

Word is really getting hot that the next general election will be held in November this year and not March/April 2012. This view is subscribed to by many political analysts and most of the leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and they are getting more convinced by the day that this time, they will be right.

"Every GE, we go through the motions and the guessing games. This round is no different. But November is a date held by many of us since a year ago based on a combination of factors. And now it is starting to become clear, Najib will push for November polls as much as he can," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

Initially, the views favoring a 2012 GE outnumbered those who predicted Parliament would be dissolved this year. This was reinforced when powerful ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad said there was "no harm" in waiting a bit longer.

However, that belief swiftly changed when Najib displayed unusual haste over several factors. Among these were last week's unveiling of a surprise ISA repeal plan and the arrest of PAS deputy president Mat Sabu, who was charged on Wednesday for criminal defamation over the Bukit Kepong incident.

Next month, in October, Najib is also due to unveil the Budget for 2012, and Umno insiders are already boasting that it will be packed with goodies for the 'rakyat' or people.

"I am not sure if goodies alone are enough. His credibility is nearly nil," PKR vice president N Surendran toldMalaysia Chronicle, adding that he too believes GE-13 will be this year.

Unable to turn the country around

Indeed after several botched decisions and little headway in managing the economy, the scandal-plagued Najib may be unable to convince people that he can turn the country around. Credibility and lack of sincerity remains his greatest barriers, and could well provide the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar brahim with a historical breakthrough.

Within his own Umno party, his credentials are probably at an all time low. Many insiders say that Najib, today, stands on the same level as his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi, had in 2008, when he was forced by the Umno supreme council to bring forward a succession plan in favour of Najib and Muhyiddin Yassin, the deputy primne minister.

Muhyiddin is now the odds-on favorite to take over the Umno presidency. The 64-year Johor leader has seen a surge of visitors to his office and home in recent months, especially during the recent Hari Raya.

"I am not sure if Muhyiddin can become Prime Minister because to do that, BN has to win GE-13 first. But I have no doubt he will be the next Umno president," said Jui Meng, a former Health minister, who has known both Najib and Muhyiddin for close on two decades.

Red herrings: No electoral reforms, forget about the ISA repeal

Most significantly, though, pundits warned this means that the Parliamentary Select Committee for electoral reforms will not be effective at all as there will not be enough time to push through any changes.

Even the ISA repeal plan was in doubt and chances are high that Najib's proposal will gather cobwebs, just like his New Economic Model.

"These are red herrings to me," MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad toldMalaysia Chronicle.

"Obviously there is not enough time but all above, there is not enough political will. The electoral system was abused by BN to ensure their victory. They will never be willing to correct the system as it would surely result in a big loss for them at the ballot boxes. All the talk is to distract the people and make them think that the BN is finally doing something, but in actual fact, nothing could be further from the truth."

- Malaysia Chronicle