PUTRAJAYA (Feb 13, 2008): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that he leads will be returned again in the coming 12th general election with its two-thirds majority intact simply because it has fulfilled its promises to the people.

He believes the people will again give the BN a strong mandate to rule the country as they are confident  it would be able to continue with its effort to develop the country and lead the nation towards greater prosperity.

"We hope to get a big support, at least two-thirds majority," he said in a special press conference to announce the dissolution of the 11th parliament which is due to expire only May next year.

In the last general election in 2004, the BN secured its biggest ever electoral victory, sweeping 90% of the 219 seats in the Dewan Rakyat and controlling all the state asssemblies, except that of Kelantan which it failed to capture by a mere whisker.

Asked whether the BN could repeat its 2004 performance, he said: “I am not sure about that. I think 2004 was a special record. But we hope to get a big support as the voters know that the BN has a good track record.”

He said BN had fulfilled its promises to the people and carried out many programmes and it will continue to ensure the programmes will eventually produce the desired results, benefit the people and contribute towards the country’s development.

“ We have succeeded in developing the country by upgrading it from one level to another. And we hope to be able to give a good service and value add to our success thus far.

“We have the experiences and capabilities. And we can carry out all the development plans,” he said.

Abdullah said the elections machinery has been arranged and will be mobilised accordingly.

He also advised all state governments, except Sarawak, to dissolve their state assemblies to enable the state elections to be held simultaneously.

“I have had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin this morning and received his consent to dissolve Parliament,” he said, adding the Parliament and Election Commission (EC) have been informed.

He said the EC will decide on the nomination and polling dates.

The EC will meet tomorrow morning and is expected to determine the nomination and election dates.

Yesterday, Abdullah had denied that the parliament will be dissolved today, prompting reporters to ask why he decided to change his mind suddenly.

To this, he said: “I cannot give any clues on the date of the dissolution because His Majesty has not decided. How can I make a statement or give any clues beforehand? That is not possible. The Agong must know first and make a decision.”

Asked whether the BN list of candidates is ready, he said: "No. Once it is ready, I will make public the number of new faces or incumbents who will be vying for the parliamentary and state seats."

While refusing to comment on the “13” date, he brushed off a suggestion that he was trying to project a certain image as the announcement was made during the Chinese New Year 15-day celebration.

“No. It will not affect any activities or celebrations of the Chinese,” he said.

On why the election is held 15 months before the current mandate ends, Abdullah said there is nothing wrong with having it now.

“I think it is good to have it now. It is not a problem. I believe with the strong mandate, we will be able to continue with our efforts to develop the country and give abundance to the people.”

On his hope for the voters, he said: “I hope they will understand the issues related to our country and make an objective evaluation. And when the time comes, cast your vote.”

He also expressed hope that the election process, especially the nomination and polling days, will take place smoothly.

"Hopefully, there would not be any disturbances or difficulties faced by the people that would hinder them from coming out and exercise their rights to vote for the candidates of their choice,” he added.

MCA, MIC lists of candidates almost ready
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 13, 2008): The MCA and MIC have almost finalised their list of candidates for the 12th General Election to be presented to Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for approval.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who is Housing and Local Government Minister, said the list is more than 90% ready and should be finalised within two days.

"I was sitting next to the prime minister in the Cabinet meeting in the morning (before Abdullah dissolved the parliament in noon today) and now I have a rough idea on how much time left for me to submit the list (he, however refused to tell the deadline)," Ong, the Acting Health Minister, told reporters after presenting Malaysia Medical Council's accreditation certificate to MIC's Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University today.

MIC president and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who was also present at the presentation ceremony, said MIC's list is almost ready and the candidates will only be announced after Abdullah's approval.

"We still have hopefuls walking into the (MIC) office in the morning introducing themselves as candidates. So I took their photos and asked them to be patient and wait," he added.

Asked on the issues that were expected to be raised, Samy said: "Traditionally, the Indian community has been strong supporters of the BN. But in between, some people raised issues like marginalisation. The Indian community is not as far behind as claimed. The community is at best five years backward, not 50 years.

"I must say the BN leadershipis taking good care of that because the prime minister and deputy prime minister had made several announcements to say that everything will be taken care of. I know both of them and, when they say something, they will do it," he said.

Ong said global issues like increasing prices of essential goods, cost of living and crime rate that are facing Malaysians are also shared by other countries.

"What is important is that the government is tackling the issues seriously and we have many action plans (to deal with the issues). Give us some time, I am sure that things will get better," he added.

Asked whether the two presidents will be contesting in the elections, Ong said: "I cannot imagine the MCA president not contesting in the general election and let the team go in without the captain."

Samy, who is rumoured that he would be dropped as a candidate , said: "The prime minister decides. Okay?"

Asked whether young candidates will feature in the elections, Samy said: "It's not a question of age, but a question of the heart and mind to take care of the people.

"We will have many new faces and you will be surprised when we get the approval of the prime minister," he added.

Lim: DAP 'hopeful' of better showing
PETALING JAYA (Feb 13, 2008): DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says the opposition party is "hopeful" of a better performance in the next general election than the last one in 2004.

However, he said DAP would not be overly confident about the results given the elections tactics that used by the caretaker government in previous general elections.

“We have to be realistic that in Malaysia it’s very hard to predict the results given the fear and threat tactics the BN has used. We can only be hopeful,” he said.

On the party’s negotiations with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Lim said: "We have to conclude the negotiations whatever the conclusion ... We are hoping for the best, but are also prepared for any other consequences."

He said the party is waiting for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to return from Hongkong to resume negotiations.

Asked if he was surprised with the dissolution pf Parliament yesterday, he said: “I am disappointed and regret that he said something and did something else."

On the video clip linking DAP leaders to street violence aired by the state-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), he said while the party could not stop such bias reporting, it would take action against scandalous lies.

DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, in another press conference earlier, reminded BN coalition parties that they are now a caretaker government.
“A caretaker government can only manage day to day administration, not policy making or allocation of funds. So they should not abuse the state machinery for election campaign,” he said.

PAS deputy president Nasahrudin Mat Isa said the party’s machinery nationwide are prepared to face the general election.

In a statement today, he said with its strong cooperation and understanding with PKR, PAS is confident that it would win support from the people.

Nasharudin also took the BN government to task by spreading speculations about the date of the general election.

"We hope the 12th General Election is conducted in a fair and clean manner," he added.

In KUALA LUMPUR, PKR is disappointed Abdullah has dissolved Parliament despite having publicly on Tuesday said he would not do it.

"It's the prerogative of the Prime Minister (to call for elections). We are only questioning his ethics after denying such a move (to dissolve Parliament) less than 24 hours ago," said PKR Information Chief Tian Chua in a press conference today.

In PENANG, DAP vice-chairman Chow Kon Yeow also expressed similar disappointment with the Prime Minister for "saying something but doing another".

"The election is an opportunity to bring change for the betterment of the people. The people must feel they need a change first for changes to take place.

Malaysia faces a bleak future if we do not seize this opportunity to change as neighbouring countries will soon catch up on us (economically),” he added.

Koh: It's much more tougher
PENANG (Feb 13, 2008): Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said yesterday the 12th General Election will be much more tougher and challenging than the last one in 2004.

Koh, who is also acting Gerakan president, said based on his 26 years of electoral experience, the possibility of a pendulum swing had been felt after the 2004 landslide electoral victory for the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"After Tun Mahathir Mohamad became the prime minister in 1981, during the 1982 general election the BN won with a landslide victory.

"However, in 1986, the pendulum swung the other way, with the opposition winning many more seats compared with 1982.

"We anticipate a swing but we will try our very best to retain as many seats as possible. It will be a very challenging battle," Koh said in a press conference today to announce the dissolution of the Penang state legislative assembly in tandem with the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In 2004, BN won 38 of the 40 state seats while it won eight of 13 parliamentary seats.

DAP and PAS won a state seat each, DAP won four parliamentary seats while Parti Keadilan Rakyat won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

Koh will head the BN election machinery in the general election in his capacity as Penang BN chairman despite contesting a parliamentary seat this time around.

On DAP's allegations that the next Chief Minister was being decided by Umno, when it should be done by Gerakan, Koh said: "The opposition is being mischievious, twisting the whole issue of me consulting Abdullah and proposing the three candidates to succeed me. They are saying Gerakan is 'kow towing' to Umno.

"Abdullah is the prime minister and BN chairman. Respect should be given to him by recommending the chosen candidates to him but this is done in the mutual spirit of consultation and discussion."

Likewise, he said, as Chief Minister, he was also consulted when the BN component parties recommended their respective candidates to be appointed as state executive councillors.

Asked about Gerakan's list of candidates, Koh said: "It's almost done."