Opposition may not win the snap polls

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that Pakatan Rakyat will sweep Perak if fresh elections are called.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad

He said, it was a ‘forgone conclusion' that Pakatan Rakyat would win if an election is held. "I think the opposition... well not the opposition... I think that Pakatan is going to win. So why have an election? We already had an election," Mahathir said.

“So why should we have fresh elections ?“ he asked, saying that it was costly and that he did not agreed will calls by other BN leaders for fresh state elections.

Ironically, politics is an art of impossible and BN is a very strong political coalition, thus the chances of the opposition of winning fresh elections seem very slim.

Politically, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad’s perception is controversial and may not be a correct perception.

NIK AZIZ: Mahathir to attack UMNO from within

Suddenly it seems that everyone is caught by the political move of Dr Mahathir.


It seems that Dr Mahathir's latest strategy against his successor Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is to make a return to UMNO and back leaders to take on and topple Abdullah as party president and prime minister.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said it would be better for Dr Mahathir “to attack UMNO from within”.

“I’m excited as this will weaken UMNO. I don’t understand it when he left UMNO to attack Pak Lah (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). I don’t see the logic of attacking UMNO from the outside... now he can confront the party from within,” he said.



Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Pakatan Rakyat will benefit should Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad rejoin UMNO as there will be “chaos in within Umno.” “It will be exciting to see him creating chaos,” he told reporters at his office here.

"I'm excited as this will weaken UMNO. I don't understand it when he left Umno to attack Pak Lah (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). I don't see the logic of attacking UMNO from the outside... now he can confront the party from within," he said.

MAHATHIR BACKS KU LU GUNNING DOWN ABDULLAH

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he supported the call by veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for an emergency general meeting for the party to discuss its electoral setback in the March 8 polls.

He said: "If I endorse him for the president's position, others will want it too." he told reporters after attending a book launch in Kuala Lumpur.

“I was told that Razaleigh has written letters to all the Umno divisions asking for an EGM to discuss problems affecting Malays. I support that suggestion.”

"The issue of selecting the next president should only be discussed after we have thrashed out our problems. This is because there might be other people who are interested in the position."

"Furthermore, to challenge for the Umno presidency he needs support from delegates from 60 divisions. I don't see 60 divisions brave enough to back him."

"Please keep in mind that any action taken should not weaken the party, which will be an additional burden.If it is for the betterment of the party, we cannot stop it. Otherwise, rethink what the end result will be," he added.

So for a lack of voice, many Umno members voted for the opposition as a sign of protest, he said.

"It's not that they supported the opposition, but it's because they are against the leadership," said Mahathir.

On the subject of buying over candidates by PKR, he said that this was a democratic country and both sides were at it.

"Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price," he said. "Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic," he said with his trademark sarcasm.

No gentlemen’s agreement with Dr Mahathir

The” gentlemen’s agreement” between Abdullah and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he will serve as prime minister for only one term before handing over the post to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was denied by Abdullah. Dr Mahathir, however, admitted that he had no way of proving it and Najib said:”I don’t know. You have to ask the parties concerned.” Is it interesting? What is the hidden agenda?

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied having a ”gentlemen’s agreement” with with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he will serve as prime minister for only one term before handing over the post to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. "There is no gentlemen's agreement," the prime minister told reporters after opening the Pavilion shopping centre here today. Abdullah, however, declined to elaborate when pressed for further comments on the matter. He repeated, saying: “No gentlemen’s agreement”.

The prime minister was asked to comment on the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" between Abdullah and his predecessor Dr Mahathir as claimed by the former prime minister that Abdullah would serve as prime minister for only one term before passing the baton to Najib. Dr Mahathir said yesterday that since Abdullah was older than Najib, he should be prime minister for one term and then Najib should be able to take over. Dr Mahathir claimed the agreement was made in 2003 when he handed over the leadership to Abdullah. Dr Mahathir, however, admitted that he had no way of proving it.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Stressing that he was not aware of any "gentlemen's agreement" between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was committed to support and be loyal to the prime minister. "I don't know about that (gentlemen's agreement). I am committed to support the prime minister and be loyal to the prime minister," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after opening a seminar for Felda mosque officials. Najib said his focus at the moment was on the soon-to-be-held general election and "I want to ensure the Barisan Nasional wins big."

Pressed further whether he knew about the gentlemen's agreement, Najib said: ”I don’t know. You have to ask the parties concerned.” He was asked to comment on the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" between Abdullah and Dr Mahathir as claimed by the former prime minister that Abdullah would serve as prime minister for only one term before passing the baton to Najib. Dr Mahathir said yesterday that since Abdullah was older than Najib, he should be prime minister for one term and then Najib should be able to take over. Dr Mahathir claimed the agreement was made in 2003 when he handed over the leadership to Abdullah. Dr Mahathir, however, admitted that he had no way of proving it.

Dr Mahathir out of ICU

The latest IJN statement says Dr Mahathir has been transferred to the "Bunga Raya" ward and doctors are happy with his progress. He has even started walking unaided. Read more from his daughter Marina. RantingsbyMM