MORE EXCUSES: Najib to dissolve Parliament before Mar 15?

PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak is expected to dissolve the parliament within the first two weeks of March and have the 13th general election (GE13) held before April 15, Sin Chew Daily reported today.

The daily learnt that Najib has made the decision following a meeting with some key Barisan Nasional figures on Friday night.

It was also learnt that the prime minister had earlier intended to announce the dissolution of the parliament on March 1, for the Election Commission to fix nomination in mid-March and polling on April 7, the weekend after Cheng Beng, or Tomb Festival.

However, a source said as Barisan Nasional has yet to finalise its candidate list, Najib, who is also BN chief, has decided at the BN pow-vow to delay the GE for a week or two.

Nevertheless, the election would be over by mid-April, the source said.

Malaysia is expected to witness the fiercest electoral battle in the upcoming GE, with all eyes on who will form the next government.

Up to now, no one can be sure whether the BN can return to power or that the Opposition can march into Putrajaya.

Most people believe whoever wins will only manage a simple majority.

Political analysts believe that even if BN wins another term, it is unlikely to obtain more seats than it did in the last GE.

BN will have to win at least 112 parliamentary seats to stay in power.

In the 2008 GE, BN garnered 137 seats and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) 85.

Political analyst Dr Thock Kiah Wah told Sin Chew that although GE13 is considered to be a 50:50 race between BN and PR, he believes the national front will be returned to power with a simple majority.

Thock, who is Southern University College president, said barring any major incident or any of the two fronts committing a major mistake, BN still has the advantage but will win with only 130 seats or fewer.

Political scientist Dr Ho Khai Leong of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies also believes GE13 will be a close race.

He is of the opinion that whoever wins the election will garner between 115 and 120 seats.

-thesundaily