END OF THE ROAD FOR NAJIB: However he twists, it's clear to Umno they will lose GE14 if he stays as PM

Nearly two years after the 13th General Election, Malaysia is already beginning to grip with the upcoming 14th GE, and this despite being almost three years away. Political parties on both sides of the divide are already beginning to crank up their election machinery.

Why so soon? This is because an early start will give a great winning edge. But is there any sense in going into election battles now when there are more pressing issues to be addressed? The rule of thumb is apparently that not only is there the 14th GE but the possibility of snap elections.

Snap polls in Malaysia will be unprecedented but the possibility looms as the governing Barisan Nasional (BN) government seem to be tottering on the edge with an impending collapse. It doesn’t help that a number of disasters and financial crises and economic woes are accelerating the destruction of BN.

BN has been governing the nation exclusively for nearly 58 years but they have been put under tremendous pressure by a Malaysian populace who are beginning to get wary and suspicious of their political ploys and schemes.

What is going to happen?

It’s really very hard to predict the future of Malaysia. But the “Anwar factor” will play a leading role in whether Malaysians will tip the apple cart for the first time in the history of the nation by calling for and pushing for snap polls.

Anwar has been the leading man for the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) but on Feb. 10 a Malaysian court is set to deliver the verdict on his accused sodomy charge and this day is set to either pacify his supporters or trigger alarm bells.

It must not be forgotten that PR held the popular vote in the last general election and since the political tsunami of the 12th GE in the year 2008 the opposition coalition has grown from strength to strength with a proud showing in their traditional bases of Selangor and Penang.

This is why the states of Perak, Kedah, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah and Sarawak are sitting on the fence as “neutral states” now and why Najib has called upon BN to check and examine their preparedness for a sudden general election.

Casting the dice

Trying to predict and peer into the future and see where Malaysia is heading is difficult but there is one thing for certain – changes, major changes are set to take place in this country in the near future. The difficulty is in ascertaining what these changes will be right now.

The dice has not been cast and therefore the changes to be made are still unknown. But for sure everything points to the fact that Malaysia will never be the same place again until the 14th GE produces tangible results or the worst case scenario of a hung parliament.

This is what Najib is trying to avoid and therefore already so soon he is going full steam ahead with his election gambit to win a two-third majority in parliament. This is his focus and all his efforts are now being concentrated on this venture.

But PR has gotten whiff of the situation and in fitting response are preparing for all eventualities. The opposition pact of PR is not wishing to be left behind and have accordingly adjusted and drawn their game plan to counter BN.

It really is now a testing time and the battle of the 14th GE is set to be even more acrimonious between the two heavyweights than the 13th GE. Malaysians can be assured all sorts of mechanisms will be at work by both sides to win the voter’s vote.

Who will prevail?

While the momentum to the 14th GE is beginning to pick up in a slow but steady fashion, it is really very early to be able to determine who will emerge as the victor. But one thing’s for certain and sure, the period between now and the elections of the 14th GE will be a defining period.

What transpires from now in the political arena, the alleged link between Najib and Rosmah and the murder of Altantuya, and on the other side, Anwar and his alleged sodomy will lead on in this scandal-hit country to dog the people.

Malaysia is at the crossroads of a very historical political battle and both Najib and Anwar have seen their character and personality being put to the test, a most severe test, and it is hard for the ‘rakyat’ to openly decide who is innocent and who is guilty.

This is why the next general election will hinge on this crucial belief of Malaysians as both sides plead innocence and both sides try to clear their names of these scandals in the hope of being able to lead this nation.

But who is to actually decide their fate is actually the ‘rakyat’ in the coming general election and no one else save God. - MAILBAG