Alan Ling Sie Kiong
MIRI: DAP Sarawak is doubtful that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will call for snap polls soon before Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu )which has applied for registration with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Tuesday this week gains a foothold in the country.
Dismissing the snap polls as unlikely, DAP Sarawak secretary and former Piasau state assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong said Najib would only call for the 14th General Election (GE14) when the term of the present Parliament is nearing expiry in 2018.
“I doubt federal BN under Najib will do it anytime before the expiry of the term. I would hold to my belief that BN if and when still under Najib, the GE14 will only be called near the expiry of the term, in other words dragging on until the very last minute,” he opined.
He was asked to comment on former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam’s prediction that BN wants to exploit the teething problems of Bersatu by calling for a snap election before the new party gains a foothold.
The new party has Najib’s chief critic and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad as chairman, former deputy prime minister and former Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin and disgruntled Umno members who are baying for Najib’s ouster.
Musa said the biggest challenge for those who oppose the government will be to get together and become a cohesive force and not squabble over seats allocation.
Alan said a snap election may only be possible if Musa’s prediction is based on a new prime minister taking over from Najib and leading the BN in the next general election to seek his own mandate.
He said presently the Najib-led BN is unlikely to be confident enough to seek a mandate from the people due to the slowing economy and hardship faced by the people.
He said the prospect of a new prime minister leading Malaysia is only possible if Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and his Sabah counterpart Datuk Seri Musa Aman withdraw their support for Najib, which is an unlikely scenario.
Alan said he would prefer Adenan withdraw his support to achieve the devolution of powers from the federal government, regain autonomy and obtain higher oil royalty for Sarawak.
“Withdrawal of support from Adenan and Sarawak BN will have a political spill-over effect to even shake Umno’s apparent support for Najib,” he said.