Hadi: BN could be consulting bomoh for GE date

The delay by the BN in dissolving Parliament and setting the date for the 13 general election could well be because its leaders are consulting a bomoh or a witchdoctor, joked PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

"While (PAS secretary-general) Mustafa Ali mentioned the possible election dates just now, I believe Umno, which leads BN, will engage a bomoh first," he laughingly remarked at press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

"Because Umno believes in the bomoh setting the election date. If early, its early. Not like the dates Mustafa mentioned just now."

Hadi said this to reporters after launching the Islamic party's media centre at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters today.

He said PAS and its Pakatan allies were unified and strengthened by their united and principled stand.

The party president said this when asked about Mustafa's speculation on the possible dates for the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat and dates for GE13.

'Najib wants to attend Asean Summit in Brunei'

In his speech earlier, Mustafa said he expected Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to dissolve Parliament on April 26 or 27, as Najib, who is also finance minister, would first attend the Asean Summit in Brunei on April 24 and 25.

"This is because he has to go as a full fledged PM, not as caretaker PM, or he won't be as credible," he said.

Hadi said considering the automatic dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly last week, the Election Commission had to hold GE13 within 60 days of that date, if it wanted the state and federal election held concurrently.

Therefore, the general election would most likely take place on May 25 or 26, he said.

"It must be in May. Cannot be later than that, in order to make the (state and federal) elections concurrent," Hadi added.