Call polls now if you believe Daim, Kit Siang dares Najib

March 29, 2011

Lim speaking at the gathering at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam last night Picture by Choo Choy May KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has dared Barisan Nasional (BN) to dissolve Parliament immediately if it really believed Tun Daim Zainuddins analysis that the ruling coalition cannot do any worse than in 2008.If they honestly believe in Daims prediction, then Najib should call for a general election immediately, the Ipoh Timur MP told The Malaysian Insider, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.The DAP parliamentary leader said that it was obvious that BN did not agree with Daim, who was twice finance minister when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister, as it had put off calling snap polls, now expected to take place no earlier than the end of the year.Rumours have been swirling of a snap election since last year, even though Najibs mandate only ends in the middle of 2013.Daim had said in an interview published on Sunday that BN will do better in a general election expected within the year as it cannot fare worse than it did in 2008.He said that the mood has changed in the past three years and as long as the people know how to differentiate the wheat from the chaff (padi dengan sekam), I believe BN will remain in power.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is greeted by PAs president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (seated) when he arrives for a ceramah last night at Shah Alam's Stadium Melawati, followed by Lim right behind. Picture by Choo Choy MayUmno and BN will prevail. I dont think BN can lose worse than it did in the 2008 election, he said in Mingguan Malaysia, the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysias Sunday edition.Daim had predicted in late 2007 that Penang, Selangor and Kedah would join Kelantan as opp! osition- held after the 2008 election.BN lost its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament in the landmark election and Daims prediction came through when BN ceded the four states and also Perak in what became known as a political tsunami.He said that the public had voted for change in 2008 but have not seen this happen in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) held states in the past three years.It appears that all layers of society, whether the general public, politicians, administrators or businessmen, have felt the benefit of the 2008 results, he said.However, Lim said that Daims statement was off the mark and that one prediction did not mean he was infallible.Earlier, PAS vice president Datuk Salahuddin Ayub also told The Malaysian Insider that even though he respected Daims views given his prediction of the 12th General Election, he said that it could not be taken wholesale.We know he is a disciple of Dr Mahathir and whatever it is he will protect Umno, the Kubang Kerian MP said.