A SIGN MALAYSIANS CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GIVE NAJIB & BN THE BOOT? TODAY, THE MOST HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT EVER – WILL NAJIB FINALLY CALL FOR GE14?

PUTRAJAYA – The federal administrative capital is a picture of calm that belies the rising political temperature, with politicians and pundits preparing for Parliament to be dissolved to pave the way for the 14th General Election.

Putrajaya will be the focus of the nation today as speculation is rife that Prime Minis­ter Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will make the much-awaited call for polls.

But before he does that, Najib will chair the Cabinet meeting at 8.30am.

The Prime Minister had to attend a gathering with civil servants two days ago, followed by a briefing with top editors and a visit to Sarawak for several public engagements.

If this is to be the final Cabinet meeting before the polls, all 35 ministers will pose for a commemorative group photograph.

It has been a long-standing tradition among Cabinet members to have the photograph taken at its first meeting after a government is formed and again before the dissolution of Parliament.

While there is no specific dress code, the men will usually sport a red tie and the women, a red scarf.

Checks with the offices of several ministers, however, showed that no reminders were issued for their bosses to put on a red tie or scarf today.

 After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and all the ministers will then accompany Najib to make the announcement, which will be televised live on RTM.

However, it is not known if Najib will make the announcement immediately after the Cabinet meeting or wait until Friday prayers have ended. RTM officials are on standby.

“We have prepared the equipment and our studio at the Perdana Putra Complex since last week. We are just waiting for the cue from the Prime Minister’s Office,” said one official.

The PMO has also not given any indication whether or not the Prime Minister would be making the announcement.

“Like you, we are waiting for the signal,” said an aide.

It is learnt that a Cabinet meeting has also been scheduled for next week.

Sources said a letter from the Cabinet division informing ministers of today’s meeting also stated that the next one would be held on April 11.

“Don’t really know what to make of this,” said one minister. “The date is probably just blocked for administrative purposes. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

– ANN