September 18, 2012
Malaysia’s PM Najib struggles with Election Dilemma
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak is struggling with the thorny problem of when to call an election because polls indicate voters, unlike in the past, are refusing to respond to government handouts and patronage with their support.
Lavish government spending to boost Malaysia’s economic growth figures and direct handouts to students and low-income households have failed to reverse the prospect that the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, in power since independence form Britain in 1957, could face defeat in the coming election.
Najib must by law call an election by the end of April next year, but he appears to have been trying to prepare the ground to call the vote earlier.
Speculation in Malaysia has zeroed in on a November election, and the deciding factor will probably be public response to the budget scheduled for Sept. 28.
This is expected to contain more largesse, including more cash handouts to low income families. This year alone Najib’s government has given the equivalent of $820 million to families on bottom-rung incomes. There have also been cash payments to students and juicy pay raises for civil servants.
And the efforts to boost Malaysia’s feel-good factor included an apparently healthy rise in the gross domestic product, which was an annualized increase of 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2012.
However, the GDP figures got significant help from public sector investment in major government-linked oil and gas projects.
There was also major investment and disbursements to the private sector from the $444 billion Economic Transformation Program put aside some years ago to assist Malaysia to become a fully developed industrialized national by 2020.
Najib became Prime Minister and took over the leadership of the leading partner in the BN coalition, the United Malays National Organization in 2009. His predecessor Abdullah Badawi was forced out after the BN failed in 2008 elections to win a two-third majority for the first time since 1957.
Polls show that Najib’s popularity is running at 64 per cent, but only 42 per cent like his government, despite some democratic reforms as well as the cash handouts, such as removal of the hated Sedition Act.
Other polls show that 84 per cent of the 222 seats in Parliament are up for grabs in the election. The remainder are safe seats equally divided between the BN and the Opposition coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim.
Najib has put off calling the election and trying to obtain his own electoral mandate several times since taking over the government and party leadership.
His plans have been frustrated either by a new government or party scandal, of which there have been many, or else some mass demonstrations by the anti-corruption movement called BERSIH, meaning “clean” in Malay, which is allied to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) coalition.
But Najib’s freedom of movement is shrinking as the days pass. He is now faced with an unenviable choice. He can go to the polls very soon, even though the public does not appear to have responded to the government’s economic stimulus and blandishments.
Alternatively, he can wait until next year when prospects might be better, but when it is just as likely that the burnishing of the domestic economy will have worn off and the ripple effects from the global economy could be worse.
I think that being a chicken that he is, surely the election will be called in the 1st quarter of 2013. This man embarrasses us as Malaysians. The first no b… PM.
Najib’s real dilemma is Rosmah Mansor. She has become the biggest brimstone around his neck. In addition, the antics of Mahathir Mohamad and the games played by Najib’s Deputy are making it difficult for him to move.
If he does not call for elections this year he will be challenged for the post of UMNO President come December. If he loses the contest, that is the end of his premiership. Most of UMNO members think Muhiyuddin Yassin will be a better Prime Minister. Any views, apart from calling Najib chicken?
What election dilemma.He need clearance from Rosmah.Rosmah need clearance from Fung sui master and priest from India.
Actually Najib is not sure of raayat support,otherwise he could have done it in June this year.He have too many adviser including Tun Mahathir who told him,BN not ready for election.He also worry that Pakatan states will have separate election.
Najib a chicken?? Najib Razak is a dead duck. If he looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck then he gotta be a duck. A Peking duck? Don’t know about that.
But Rosmah Mansor? Rosmah Mansor is no spring chicken either.
This administration is arguably even more lame than the last one. The initial emphasis using technique and modern advertising did little to obviate the lack of will and inability to reform the political scenario. Instead it devolved into classical Mahatirological hubris. Slandering by misappropriation of the powers of state became the order of the day. No class, or rather the unveiling of peasantry dressed in Emperor’s robes. Is this strictly the fault of the spouse or the basal character of main protagonist?
Whatever, whenever and wherever the conclusion to this question – there is no doubt that Jibs have let many down. His advisers are among the most redundant and asinine that can be bought. Perhaps their ineffectiveness is a reflection of progressive dumbing down and inability to think out of the box. They have to resort to gangsterism to impose their will. A strong resolute Leader, not only of Men but even an Animal Trainer has more character and moral rectitude than this flur.
The proper thing to do besides subjugating his own undisciplined and greedy party buffoons/lackeys, is to talk less and do more. Pemandu and the ridiculous acronyms have no place in Governance. Governing a country like Malaysia using Management techniques more suitable to a Business Corporation (corrupt, at that) is the road to Perdition. I truly wonder who taught him that business and governance are identical?
His deputy is just as opportunistic a parasite, and probably more retarded in all measures, except in personal peccadilloes. Moo’s People skills are akin to Napoleon Born-apart.
Be patient, Najib will call for an election in March 2013. He has set that date in his mind for sometime now but let everyone else enjoy in the guessing game.
I have taken leave of my senses lately trying to make a decent living,which is just impossible with this current govt.I think the word Enough Is Enough is too good to describe the uncertainty,our future plotted by Idiots by whom the fence sitters has decided before,may the Fence chop off those fence sitters balls,whom at least I can identify later.
At this junture , a dry run is out of the question…Gloomy , if there is anything up and running for the Premier….Coffers read state funds are running dry…Madame First Lady is all dried up..No physical Simulation… No Mental Stimulation…No Nothing…
It doesn’t matter when the GE-13 is held. That’s besides the point. The economy is secondary to extermination of bodily parts. The Opposition can wait until the cow’s come home. You can plan only so much. The future is plain to see, and he’ll be a postscript and dot in history.
The only weapon he has is the election date, nothing else. Perhaps Gay Parisian courts will start the Trial and yes, a dead, very dead, sitting duck. Spring chickens and the Ides of March are nice combinations.
It doesn’t really matter when is the election, he is a goner as far I am concerned. Not PM material at all… there is even talk that the attacks now on DSAI bus and the CCM persecution of Suaram are beyond him and actually done by his enemies within the party to destroy his premiership…
Whoah, delimma is nothing new to him, he is in one every second and he always has a solution to it – “delagate” – his real problem is DECISIONs and making one is what he always try to avoid. Look at his history… He will make one when the result is clearcut.. Some say it is savy, smart and to a great extent has lead him to the top… Now, he is at the summit – he has got to lead and that mean he gotta make his own decision so others can follows except he doesnt know how or have the guts to do so…. (then how the hell did we let him get there in the first place, oh, another story)
But worse of all – he doesnt have an excuse, atleast Paklah got one, “i wasnt aware” (well, diplomatic way of sayin i was asleep – Dato is that correct? i could use some choice diplomacy excuses for meself, it could come handy in the near future, hahaha)
How can moo moo be better PM when he can’t even make good and progressive policies bars an education minister? You must be joking. Well new PM then new airport gain. Tons of money fom water project for his cronies.
I am really a minority voice in this blog but I think Najib will be our next PM. Insha Allah.
Najib continuing to be PM is a non-issue to many. It is how he gets to be one and remain one and the extra-constitutional means he would employ, the depth of his desperation that remain less obvious. It will be the most rigged elections in the country’s history. So don’t go around patting yourself on the back.
Najib is not our PM now, Hussin?