Prime Minister today remained coy about the possibility of calling snap polls, stating that "anything is possible", including it being held concurrently with the Sarawak state elections.

“Can you wait and see? When in comes to elections, anything is possible. You don’t expect me to actually answer (the question on whether the polls will be concurrent or not) do you?

NONE“I will consider all possibilities,” he said, laughing, while speaking to reporters at a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

The guessing game on snap polls was intensified when Sarawak chief minister Taib Mahmud said yesterday that he will suggest that the state and general election be held at the same time.

Najib was, however, more serious about the impending Merlimau by-election, which was triggered by the death of its representative Mohd Hidhir Abu Hassan.

“This is something that cannot be avoided and we did not expect at all… but I believe Malacca BN will make all preparations to face the by-election,” he said.

Asked about the emergence of a new political party, Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita), headed by former PKR man Zaid Ibrahim, Najib said that this shows that Malaysia is an “active and fresh” democracy.

He also said that he was “okay” with BN component party PPP president M Kayveas attending the launching of the party on Wednesday, adding that BN leaders “do not fight on everything”.

Ask Bank Negara about high illicit outflows

Meanwhile, the premier remained tightlipped about a report which found that Malaysia to fifth largest amount of illegal outflow of capital between 2002 and 2008.

“There could be a host of reasons, but let Bank Negara give specific comments on that,” he said.

The report by Washington based watchdog Global Financial Integrity found that Malaysia illicit money outflow from 2000 to 2008 tripled from RM67.8 billion to RM208 billion.

Earlier, the premier launched the 1Malaysia Youth Fund which is a RM20 million worth grant programme aimed at providing financial assistance to social and business ventures by those aged 15-20, which are in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

The first trench of grants is expected to be rolled out in four weeks time, while a reality show will also be produced by Media Prima involving the fund.