DPM admits Pakatan a tough opponent, warns BN against complacency

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin launching the Barisan Nasional Command Centre at Taman Bullion Mewah. – Picture by Saw Siow FengKUALA LUMPUR, April 7 – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin warned the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery today against complacency, admitting that beating Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the coming polls contest would not be an easy task.

The deputy BN chairman said the opposition will be fighting tooth and nail to achieve its Putrajaya goal this time around and would not give up so easily.

“We have to be ready because it will not be easy to get the opposition to surrender,” he told BN members when launching the pact’s Batu parliamentary command centre here.

Muhyiddin told party workers to work their hardest to draw more support for BN, adding they should not give up as long as victory is not yet on their side.

“Do not sleep until the very final day. Only once we have won, you can sleep for however long you like... but as long as victory is not in our hands, we have to be alert... do not allow our enemies to sneak up on us and influence our voters,” he told some 500 at the function this evening.

“Let us go down to every area, ask how people are, their problems, and if they respond, then it is not impossible for Batu to return to BN,” he said, referring to the Batu parliamentary seat held by PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang since Election 2008.

The country’s number two also warned party members not to take any issue lightly, reminding them that the voters are the “kings” who would determine BN’s fate in the coming polls.

“But we cannot assume that everything would be so easy, the voters will be the determinants, the voters are the king, they could do whatever they like... even without reason, because no one can force them to choose a party,” he said.

Before launching the command centre, Muhyiddin, in his visit to the Batu constituency, enjoyed some teatime snacks with the voters of Kampung Padang Balang in Sentul.

He said all BN component parties need to stay cohesive and cooperative among one another despite their differences, adding that this would help keep the pact strong.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat, paving the way for the long-awaited 13th general election.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the polls may be held as soon as April 20 or a week later on April 27, depending on the Election Commission’s (EC) arrangements.

The EC will meet next Wednesday to set the dates for nominations and polling that must he held within 60 days of it getting the notice of dissolution from every state legislative assembly that has yet to be dissolved.

Politicians from the ruling BN and opposition PR will be fighting hard to wrest majority control over 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats in the coming polls, which analysts have said is a toss-up between both pacts.