KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he is confident that the general election will not be held in the first quarter of this year.
He said many people had made speculations that the poll would be held in the first quarter of 2011 but he did not see any sign that this would become a reality.
However, when asked about the possibility that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would hold the general election this year although the mandate of the Dewan Rakyat would only end in 2013, Dr Chua said he could not speculate on it.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he said when asked by reporters whether the meeting between Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, and all the BN elected representatives at the Parliament building on Saturday indicated that the general election would be held within the first four months on this year.
Commenting on the by-election for the Tenang State Assembly seat, in Johor on Jan 30, Dr Chua said the MCA perceived the by-election as something that was important and would work hard to ensure victory for the BN.
He said the people were smart in making their assessment and he was confident that the BN would get the people’s support because in the last three years, the opposition were perceived to have not fulfilled their promises.
“BN under the Prime Minister has delivered more of the promises that we had made.
“We are not perfect and no one is perfect,” he said after announcing the 1Malaysia Cultural Award, here yesterday.
The by-election for the Tenang state constituency is being held following the death of the incumbent Datuk Sulaiman Taha.
On the award which offers a cash prize of RM50,000, Dr Chua said nominations were open until Feb 28 and aimed at giving recognition to individuals or groups through their work or efforts using the Chinese cultural elements practised in Malaysia and consistent with the 1Malaysia concept.
“The award, among other things, could also contribute towards solidarity and harmony between the races in Malaysia.
Nominations are open to all Malaysian nationals regardless of age or gender,” he said at a media conference on the award, here yesterday. — Bernama