Dr M: Najib in weak position, should delay polls
Published: May 28, 2012 9:41 AM | Updated: May 28, 2012 9:47 AM
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes that current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not call for polls before the Aidilfitri celebrations.
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes that current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not call for polls before the Aidilfitri celebrations.
Mahathir said that this was necessary to shore up support because Najib had inherited a "weakened" BN from its previous leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"Being weak, he has to respond to the criticisms... But when you are faced with this problem, anything you do is not enough," he said.
Mahathir said that the best time for Najib (right) to hold polls should be "sometime" in the next five months before year end.
He said this during an interview with Bloomberg, which was published today.
Mahathir was reiterating suggestions he made in February, also during an interview with Bloomberg, that the premier should delay polls to win support, particularly from the Chinese community.
At the time, Mahathir said that he was confident that Najib would be able to secure a simple majority in Parliament, without winning two-thirds control.
"If you have the time, use the time to build up support," he said.
Eurozone crisis
On May 14, Mahathir reiterated his suggestion yet again, brushing off the possibility that holding polls after Aidilfitri celebrations was bad for BN because Malaysia might suffer effects of the Eurozone crisis by then.
Mahathir said that although there is some risk involved, he stressed that the polls should be held "anytime" after Aidilfitri.
During the interview published today, Mahathir agreed that the slowing European and North American economic has hurt Malaysia, particularly in terms of exports.
He also expected China's economy to slow down soon.
"If there is a slowdown in China we would suffer in terms of losing the Chinese market... At the same time we may be able to improve the competitiveness of our products," he said.
Mahathir said that this was necessary to shore up support because Najib had inherited a "weakened" BN from its previous leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"Being weak, he has to respond to the criticisms... But when you are faced with this problem, anything you do is not enough," he said.
Mahathir said that the best time for Najib (right) to hold polls should be "sometime" in the next five months before year end.He said this during an interview with Bloomberg, which was published today.
Mahathir was reiterating suggestions he made in February, also during an interview with Bloomberg, that the premier should delay polls to win support, particularly from the Chinese community.
At the time, Mahathir said that he was confident that Najib would be able to secure a simple majority in Parliament, without winning two-thirds control.
"If you have the time, use the time to build up support," he said.
Eurozone crisis
On May 14, Mahathir reiterated his suggestion yet again, brushing off the possibility that holding polls after Aidilfitri celebrations was bad for BN because Malaysia might suffer effects of the Eurozone crisis by then.
Mahathir said that although there is some risk involved, he stressed that the polls should be held "anytime" after Aidilfitri.
During the interview published today, Mahathir agreed that the slowing European and North American economic has hurt Malaysia, particularly in terms of exports.
He also expected China's economy to slow down soon.
"If there is a slowdown in China we would suffer in terms of losing the Chinese market... At the same time we may be able to improve the competitiveness of our products," he said.
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