Former M’sian premier Dr M scoffs at Anwar’s plan for political comeback

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed scoffed the idea of a political comeback by his renegade former deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ''He could win a few seats but making a comeback and taking over the government, that's a pipedream.”

Anwar has already announced he wants to run for office through a proxy in the forthcoming general election (widely speculated in March), and eventually a by-election in May. But as analysts have pointed out a pop politician can not take the top job without enough majority parliamentary support from his ‘barisan’ coalition.

And so far, Anwar’s party and its rag-tag opposition coalition is no match to the formidable machinery, media and money of the ruling 14-party ‘Barisan Nasional’ coalition.

The opposition coalition remains divided and has performed poorly in recent by-elections. Still, the opposition coalition is hoping to deny the ruling coalition a two third majority against a backdrop of widespread accusation of election irregularities.

Recent Developments - updated Feb 14, 2008 : Anwar, Malaysian Opposition, Aim to Erode Majority - bloomberg.com

Opposition Not A Real Threat To BN; Threat From Enemy Within

BERA (Pahang), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the Barisan Nasional's (BN) main threat in the impending general election was not the opposition, but splits within members of its component parties.

He said the opposition was not strong, but appeared to be (strong) only because of certain individuals, unlike the BN which had many leaders with quality.

"The opposition pact is just a marriage of convenience, unlike the coalition in the BN, which remains solid not only during elections but at all times," he told reporters after launching the Bera parliamentary constituency's BN Youth Youth election machinery here today.

He said BN members should unite and work as a team to win big in the coming general election.

He said they should not have any ill-feelings if they are not nominated as election candidates.

"The question on the choice of candidates is the prerogative of the party leadership and those who lobby, especially at the last hour to become candidates, are just wasting their time because the leadership knows better," he said.

On the selection of candidates from Umno Youth, Khairy said the movement would leave the matter to the leadership, adding that the movement's main priority was to ensure a win for BN candidates in the election.-- BERNAMA .

BN confident of winning polls

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional is confident of winning a two-thirds majority in the upcoming general election, its deputy chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said yesterday. The deputy prime minister, who is also Umno deputy president, said despite the current issues being played up by the opposition, BN was confident of achieving it.

"Yes, of course. We are positive (about winning) and we must have that positive attitude," he said after chairing the National Social Council meeting at the Implementation and Co-ordination Unit in the Prime Minister's Department.

"Obviously, we are hoping to get more than that (two-thirds)," Najib said, adding that voters would not be easily swayed by accusations hurled against the BN by the opposition.

He said the opposition would make all sorts of promises to entice voters.

"In the first place, do we need to respond to their antics? Their promises are nothing and unrealistic."

The latest gimmick by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was that it would pay allowances to housewives if the party won in the general election.

Najib said voters knew BN's track record and appreciated what it had done to improve the quality of life of the people.

© Copyright 2008 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.