DAP predicts polls before Mahathir retires in October
KUALA LUMPUR Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ruling coalition will call general elections before he retires in October, an opposition party predicted today.
Information gathered by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) indicated that contrary to earlier belief, Mahathir would lead the National Front into the next polls, secretary general Kerk Kim Hock told the official
Bernama
news agency.
Elections are not due until November 2004, but the DAP an active, Chinese-based party now believes that the coalition wants to capitalise on Mahathir's status before he steps down after 22 years in power.
"We are getting a lot of information that the (National Front) component parties are actually targetting elections before Dr Mahathir retires and we know that they have started to compile the ground reports," Kerk said.
Mahathir has usually hedged over when the vote would be held, but said in November he hoped he would retire first.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ruling coalition will call general elections before he retires in October, DAP's Kerk Kim Hock predicts. He also says the PM will lead the BN into the next polls.
Information gathered by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) indicated that contrary to earlier belief, Mahathir would lead the National Front into the next polls, secretary general Kerk Kim Hock told the official Bernama news agency.
Elections are not due until November 2004, but the DAP an active, Chinese-based party now believes that the coalition wants to capitalise on Mahathir's status before he steps down after 22 years in power.
"We are getting a lot of information that the (National Front) component parties are actually targetting elections before Dr Mahathir retires and we know that they have started to compile the ground reports," Kerk said.
Mahathir has usually hedged over when the vote would be held, but said in November he hoped he would retire first.
"I will step down in October whether there is general election or not, but I would rather step down before the election," he said.
Not contesting
The 76-year-old veteran leader reiterated then that he would not stand as a candidate for parliament in the elections, but would participate as a party supporter to ensure the victory of the National Front.
However, Mahathir announced later that same month that his United Malays National Organisation (Umno) had decided to postpone its triennial party polls due in June to ensure that members devoted their time and energy to the general election.
Umno is the mainstay of the National Front, which includes parties representing the Chinese and Indian minorities, among others.
Mahathir surprised the nation last June by announcing that he would step down by the end of October 2003, and named Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his chosen successor.
With the hardline Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) presenting a strong challenge for the votes of the Malay majority, analysts say it would be no surprise if Umno decided to rely on Mahathir's proven vote-winning record rather than that of the untested Badawi for the next election. AFP
