No more guessing when the general election will be held it will
definitely be on this year.
The arrival of 2013 marks the
start of the final countdown to Malaysia's 13th general election, the timing of
which had been the top political chatter for the past two years.
With just 17 weeks left before
the term of the Dewan Rakyat expires on April 28, political parties are all set
for what promises to be the most intense polls ever.
It is anyone's guess when
Parliament will be dissolved but it will pave the way for Najib Tun Razak's
first voter-mandate since becoming Prime Minister in 2009, though March appears
to be an opportune month.
Election Commission (EC) deputy
chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the EC will reach 100 per cent readiness by
the end of February, its deadline to complete all polling day preparations,
such as securing the indelible ink that would be used for the first time.
Najib and his deputy, Muhyiddin
Yassin, are expected to wrap up their final overseas working visits by late
next month [February], after which they will remain in the country for the
final push to the polls, sources said.
Najib's overseas itinerary will
include the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, while Muhyiddin will be
making a working visit to the United States this month.
Najib's New Year address, which
outlined the Government's accomplishments in the past year, was laced with the
choice that Malaysia's 13.1 million voters will soon face at the ballot box.
“The Government and myself will
not be capable of providing the best possible service to the people without
solid support from each of you.
“Give us a clear mandate and we
promise to utilise your trust in the best possible manner to build a Malaysia
for all.
“Even all this time it has been
proven that we fulfil all our promises and commitments,” said Najib.
Muhyiddin, in his New Year
message, urged the people to support the Government as the Government's efforts
have placed Malaysia on track to achieve developed status by 2020. The new
year, said Malaysian Chinese Association president Chua Soi Lek, promises to be
exciting as the party heads into a “do-or-die” battle.
Barisan Nasional
secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the headquarters has already
issued instructions right down to the division level to be prepared for the
polls at any time now.
“It is like preparing for an
examination; we have done the groundwork and are waiting for the PM's signal,”
said MIC secretary-general S. Murugesan.
Meanwhile, the Pakatan is also
entering 2013 with guns blazing.
Large gatherings by Pakatan are
expected to spice up the political atmosphere in the run-up to the general
election.
“There will be more intense
arguments breaking out over politically charged issues at the gatherings, which
will spill over to the Internet and spread through SMS or leaflets,” said
National Council of Professors deputy chairman Professor Shamsul Amri
Baharuddin.
With both sides gearing up,
expect Malaysia's political climate relatively tepid in recent weeks due to the
2012 year-end festivities to soon turn white-hot as election fever grips the
nation like never before.
Razak Ahmad
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