Dr M pans poll findings that Harapan is preferred choice

 

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has summarily dismissed independent pollster Merdeka Centre’s survey which found Pakatan Harapan the preferred choice and that his Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition was the least desired by voters in this Saturday’s general election.

At a press conference in Ampang yesterday, the former prime minister said the pollster cannot be trusted as its earlier survey, conducted back in 2018, was wrong in asserting that BN would reclaim Putrajaya.

"Merdeka Centre said Pejuang will get one people’s representative only. Do you know that Merdeka Centre found that BN would win in GE14? But in the end, Harapan won and BN lost. So, don't trust it so much," he said.

To a question, Mahathir conceded that his party could not estimate how many seats GTA could secure.

“We just use (our) money, so it is difficult to tell how many seats we will win because the indications are always not accurate," he said.

Mahathir also lamented that he was forced to sell his own shares to fund the election as his party failed to secure any donations.

"Nobody donates money to us. People are not very friendly, and also because the economy is not good and all billionaires become millionaires.

"So, what can we do? We have to bring out whatever little money we have. I have to sell the shares also, but I won't tell you how much," he said.

According to the Merdeka Center survey unveiled in early November, Harapan is slightly ahead of BN in a voters' preference in GE15.

The survey showed that 26 percent of respondents preferred Harapan over BN’s 24, followed by Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) 13 percent. Four percent refused to answer the survey question while two percent said they would back Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) or other parties.

However, about one-third, or 31 percent, of the 1,209 voters survey said they had no preference or were unsure of who they would vote for.

On Nov 7, Anwar was reported as saying that Harapan was confident of securing a simple majority in government. But Mahathir trashed the claim by his protégé turned nemesis turned ally, and now political enemies again.

"Well, once upon a time he told the world that he was already the prime minister and Muhyiddin was no longer the prime minister. Do you know what happened?" he asked.

"He is very optimistic but we will see," said Mahathir.

Who will be PM?

On another development, Mahathir said the latest remark by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi showed that the issue surrounding BN's prime minister-designate remained unresolved.

"Actually, the party that get the most number of parliamentarians will have the right to name the prime minister," he said.

Yesterday, Zahid said the Agong will decide who becomes the prime minister if BN wins the GE15 as the ruler is constitutionally empowered to do so.

Traditionally, the Umno president is named the prime minister if BN wins a general election.

However, BN has maintained that caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also an Umno vice-president, will be the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate should it win at the polls.

Ismail Sabri has stressed that the decision for him to keep the country’s top position was decided at last year’s Umno general assembly, as well as during the party’s supreme council meeting in April. - Mkini