Najib Tun Razak Calls Malaysia Polls With 5-Decade Rule on Line

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak dissolved parliament in preparation for elections that will determine whether his ruling coalition extends its unbroken hold on power since independence in 1957.

Under Malaysian law the contest must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the legislature. The Election Commission will meet in a few days to announce a date for the poll, spokesman Sabri Said said in a text message.

“The ultimate power of choosing the government lies in the peoples’ hands,” Najib Tun Razak said in a televised address. “Over the past five decades we’ve achieved stability and prosperity in this country. I hope we’ll continue this tradition.”

The 13-party Barisan Nasional coalition, which won the 2008 national vote by its slimmest margin, faces a resurgent opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. The prospect of an even closer election result has helped make the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index one of the worst performing Asian benchmarks this year. The gauge fell as much as 3.1 percent today, the most since October 2011.

“We expect the Barisan Nasional coalition to have less seats in the aftermath of the 13th general election, but not enough to lose their majority,” said Anand Pathmakanthan, head of Malaysia research at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. “If you talk to most investors, their best case scenario is that Najib stays as well because they can’t see what comes after.”

The KLCI index has gained 82 percent during Najib’s three years as leader as of yesterday’s close, about three times less than benchmarks in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Stocks Fall
The index fell 1.2 percent to 1,664.33 as of 11:56 a.m. local time. The ringgit, Asia’s fifth-worst performing currency this year, was little changed.

Najib Tun Razak said all government-controlled state assemblies are also dissolved. The ruling coalition lost control of five of the country’s 13 states in the 2008 election to Anwar’s People’s Alliance. The government later regained control of Perak state following defections.

Members of Najib’s Cabinet applauded him today when he arrived in Putrajaya, the administrative center outside Kuala Lumpur, to chair a weekly meeting, state-run Bernama news agency reported. Today is the fourth anniversary of his tenure as prime minister.

Najib Tun Razak, 59, leads the coalition to the polls for the first time. He came to power in 2009 after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stepped down as prime minister following the narrower election win a year earlier.

Corruption Perceptions
Najib Tun Razak  is more popular than his government, according to the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. His approval rating slipped to 61 percent in February from 63 percent in December, a survey of 1,021 voters conducted Jan. 23 to Feb. 6 on the country’s peninsula showed. By contrast, 48 percent of respondents said they were “happy” with the government.

Barisan Nasional has struggled to reverse perceptions of entrenched corruption and sufficiently address concerns over higher living costs, according to Ibrahim Suffian, a political analyst at the Merdeka Center. More voters under 40 years of age are now accessing news reports online, he said, and “the government narrative isn’t always dominant anymore.”

“Economic growth was pretty strong at the end of last year and we can see some improvement in the numbers, but not nearly enough to significantly boost the government’s chances,” Ibrahim said by phone.

Economic Growth
Malaysia’s economy has expanded by more than 5 percent for each of the past six quarters through the end of 2012, buoyed by domestic demand and investment.

Najib leads a “weak government” and isn’t himself the problem, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in an interview in August. Mahathir won five straight elections as leader before stepping down in 2003.

The prime minister is seeking to capitalize on goodwill from cash payments and other pre-election sweeteners announced in the government’s 2012 and 2013 budgets. He raised salaries of civil servants, including police and the armed forces, on March 12, costing the government 1.5 billion ringgit ($483 million).

The government has also been distributing a second round of 500-ringgit cash handouts to low-income households among the nation’s 29 million people as the election draws near.

Najib Tun Razak to convene meeting to find solution on recognition of uec to enter ipta

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will soon convene a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education to find a solution that will be acceptable to all on the recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to enter local public higher learning institutions (IPTA).
In a joint statement by Najib tun Razak and United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), it said the meeting yesterday, among others had discussed on the issue concerning the recognition of the UEC which relates
to applications for entering IPTA.
“There was a discussion on requirement of students from Chinese medium schools to have at least a credit in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Malaysia paper along with the UEC, as a condition for applying to IPTA.
“There was also discussion on the issue of accreditation to the UEC Bahasa Malaysia subject,” it said.
Yesterday, Najib Tun Razak met six representatives from Dong Zong at the Prime Minister’s Office at Kompleks Perdana Putra here.
Najib Tun Razak became the first prime minister to have met Dong Zong since it was established 59 years ago.
Dong Zong was led by its chairman, Dr Yap Sin Tian, deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon, vice chairmen Kho Hai Meng and Wang Toon Jui, secretary-general Poh Chin Chuan and treasurer Lim Kock Chai.
In the historic one-hour meeting, Najib and Dong Zong representatives also discussed and exchanged ideas on the betterment of Chinese education in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Yap said Dong Zong was hoping to get some good news from the prime minister, however, there were some ‘technical problems’ on the accreditation of Bahasa Malaysia subject in UEC which need further discussion.
“We hope to get some good news soon… maybe before the general election,” he told reporters here yesterday. — Bernama

Najib Tun Razak : Two-thirds majority for BN achievable

Najib Tun Razak

REMARKABLE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: A Barisan Nasional victory will result in unprecedented boom in the stock market
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is cautiously optimistic that the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will attain victory in the general election, which could be called in a matter of days.
In an interview with the Financial Times daily journalist Jeremy Grant at his office in Putrajaya last week, Najib Tun Razak said achieving two-thirds majority was “achievable”.
“But I realise that in an election, anything could happen. That’s why I say I’m cautiously optimistic.
“Investors are looking for a strong mandate for the current government. If we should, or rather when we get a good result, you will see an unprecedented boom in the stock market. I’m quite confident of that,” he said.
Under Najib’s leadership, the country had seen a remarkable economic performance, which the International Monetary Fund last year described as having “surpassed expectations”.
The economy grew 5.5 per cent, driven by domestic demand and the buoyant exports of commodities such as gas and palm oil.
The daily reported that the country had also benefited from an economic programme introduced by Najib, who is finance minister, which aimed to double per capita income to US$15,000 (RM46,510) by 2020.
Such strong economic reforms have instilled external confidence in the current administration, which saw foreign holdings of Malaysian government bonds jump by 550 per cent to RM215 billion (US$69 billion).
According to the daily, the recent campaign by the Najib-led administration to root out Filipino intruders in Sabah could also give the premier a boost, especially from nationalist-minded voters.
On if he would introduce general sales tax, Najib Tun Razak said: ” I will look at the tax structure, definitely, because we need to enhance the revenue base. The government’s revenue base has to be predicted on much stronger footing.”
Najib Tun Razak took a swipe at the Pakatan Rakyat coalition’s economic proposals as contained in its manifesto, which included raising the minimum wage, abolishing monopolies in telecommunications and rice, and removing excise duty on vehicles.
“I think it is too risky to put faith in a coalition that does not have a clear sense of direction that they want to take the country in. They have also presented a manifesto that is not credible,” he said, adding that the manifesto would send Malaysia’s current account into deficit within a year.
The prime minister said the government was “equally concerned about corruption”, adding that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was focused.
“Prostitution and corruption are two things that mankind has had to live with for so long, but we are determined to tackle it. It is a scourge. But it is something that will not go away overnight.”
On his decision to make changes in Umno’s constitution last year making it easier to challenge the leadership, Najib Tun Razak said by doing so, he had made Umno “more democratic, more inclusive”.
“Of course, by doing that, I’m putting myself at risk. But I believe that what we’re doing is good for the country and good for the party.”

NAJIB TUN RAZAK : VOTE BN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY

KUALA KANGSAR: A vote for Barisan Nasional in the general election is a vote for peace and stability.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Barisan aimed to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the country and urged the people to support the Government.

In his rallying call to the people, Najib Tun Razak said the Government would not gamble away the future of the country and would work towards becoming a developed nation.

“The Opposition only thinks about chaos. A vote for them is a vote for riots, disturbances and demonstrations,” he said during his opening speech of the 1Malaysia Veteran Recognition Programme here yesterday.

Najib Tun Razak said Barisan was united and had good leadership and experiences to bring the country forward.

“Have faith and trust in us. What Barisan promised, we will fulfil,” he said.

Yesterday, Najib Tun Razak also attended the wedding reception of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek’s eldest daughter at the Bukit Kiara Sports Complex in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported.

Accompanied by his daughter Nooryana Najwa, Najib Tun Razak spent an hour at the wedding mingling with guests and posing for photographs with the bride and groom Nurkhalida Ahmad Shabery and Qaiyum Hasnul.

There were about 4,000 guests, including former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, as well as National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong.

Meanwhile, Najib Tun Razak extended his deepest condolences to the families of victims killed in the Friday mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school in the United States.

“It’s a tragic incident and Malaysia stands by your side,” said the Prime Minister in his tweet.

Daim backs Najib Razak , rejects Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin says Najib Tun Razak is doing a fairly good job and should be given the mandate to lead the country and continue with his transformation policies.

Urging voters to give Najib Razak the chance for five years, the Umno veteran said: “Test him. Give him the mandate. He is doing a fairly good job. Let’s see him deliver and continue with his transformation policies.”
In an interview with the New Sunday Times, Daim indicated his preference for Najib Razak to win instead of Anwar Ibrahim whom he deemed as not the right candidate to be the prime minister.

“If you ask me, between the two, Najib Razak or Anwar, I would choose Najib. I will give Najib Razak the chance. Give him the mandate and see whether he delivers because Anwar has had his chances, but he blew them.
“I want Najib to win because I don’t think Anwar is the right candidate to be prime minister,” he said.

“I believe he will mess up the country by getting advice from the likes of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank and Wolfowitz (Paul Wolfowitz, former World Bank president),” he said.
Daim, who served as the finance minister from 1984 to 1991 and as the special functions minister in 1998 before being reappointed as the finance minister from 1999 to 2001, said it was dangerous if an opposition under Anwar was to lead the country.

“I am worried as he does not have the depth in economy, always needed people to tell him — what to think and what to do,” he said.
So far, he said, there had not been even one significant idea from Anwar as the economic advisor to the Selangor government. Worse, he said, Selangor had badly handled its water issue, which had dismayed developers, investors and the people.

“Why doesn’t he (Anwar) become economic advisor to Kelantan and Kedah if Pakatan believes he is good? Think seriously. Think of our future,” he said.
Reshuffle the cabinet

To a question that Anwar believed that he was destined to become the next prime minister, Daim said: “Well, destiny is an act of God. You can be only one heartbeat away from that post but man proposes, God disposes. I think God still loves Malaysia.”

Daim said he would support Najib Razak but the prime minister must fight corruption and crime, strengthen the nation’s security and review the education system.
He also said that Najib Razak should reshuffle the cabinet.

“Bring in new faces. People think he is carrying too much deadwood in the cabinet. Most are already past their use-by date,” he said.
On the chances of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election, Daim, whose prognosis was interestingly followed, said BN would win but there must be unity within the coalition.“Umno has about 3.3 million members, MCA, about one million and MIC, about 600,000. That’s already about half of the voters.

“Now, you only need some support from the fence-sitters, you should then be able to win. But BN must put new and clean candidates who are acceptable to voters,” he said.

Daim said that if the BN was not united, the opposition pact would do better, as what happened in 2008.
“Stay united, be loyal and don’t sabotage. We need a steady and experienced hand. Only BN has the experience.
“We have gone through crisis after crisis, and recovered very quickly. We have to tell the Chinese that we cannot experiment. Look at Japan. Look around us. Look at Britain. Study what is happening,” he said.
Daim said Anwar had repeatedly said that there would be an Arab Spring-like demonstration should the opposition lose in the next general election because of what they deem as “cheating”.
“He (Anwar) has set the stage to justify their losses if they lose in the next general election. Pakatan is prepping the people so that they can scapegoat the government and the Election Commission.
“First, we are not an Arab country. And second, if there was rigging in previous general elections, how did Pakatan win five states in 2008?
“Arab Spring has turned out to be an Arab Fall (for the lack of a unifying leadership and the instability it has induced),” he said.

NAJIB RAZAK BARES HIS SOUL TO LISTENERS OF RADIO STATION

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has shared his personal side and unfulfilled dreams in a radio interview based on questions compiled from listeners.

The Prime Minister Najib Razak said his childhood ambition was to be an athlete but he had to shelve this dream due to his active involvement in politics at young age, upon the untimely demise of his father former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak in 1976.

Najib Razak said his plans to do the MBA also changed after that.

“I can’t imagine what I would have become if I was not a Prime Minister because I have been a politician since I was just 22,” said Najib in a pre-recorded interview aired by UFM 101.3 yesterday morning.

Najib Razak also expressed his yearning to drive his own car but was unable to do so due to police restriction.

“But I was allowed to drive from Putrajaya to Majestic Hotel with my family for dinner about two weeks ago. But it was with a police escort.”

The interview, hosted by the station’s in-house presenters Tyzo and Jimmy Shanley, kept away from politics and revolved around personal things about Najib Razak.

The questions for the two-hour morning show, based on trivia information that the public would like to know about the Prime Minister, were compiled from the station’s listeners.

UFM 101.3 is a new radio station related to the 1 Malaysia For Youth campaign, initiated by Najib Razak, and which started broadcasting recently on the 101.3MHz frequency in the Klang Valley area with the slogan Memang Beda (really different).

Najib Razak said he only slept about five to six hours daily, usually drinks a cup of hot chocolate as a nightcap, watches the news and reads books before going to bed.

Asked how many times a day he called his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Najib said whenever he had an outside programme, he would call her at least once a day.

“Wives like their husbands to call, so I have to call lah, said Najib Razak.

He also disclosed that it was Rosmah who chose his attire for the day as she was good at selecting clothes and colour schemes and that he sometimes wore jeans and sarong when at home.

Najib Razak also told listeners that he had to watch his food intake. “I like eating. So I have to control how much I eat because I will put on weight if I don’t.”

Najib Razak said he worked out at least three times a week and that was his KPI (key performance index) for himself. “I exercise whenever I am able to but I have limited time.

“I work out at a gym and have a personal trainer who puts me through a tough exercise regime,” saidNajib Razak, adding that he felt good and light after exercising.

To a question on how he managed to maintain his appearance, Najib said: “If you know how to manage stress, it will be fine,” he said.

Asked how he spends his salary, Najib Razak said it would go into buying groceries and gifts if he had weddings to attend.

On the type of programmes he watches, Najib Razazk said he preferred the History Channel and had an interest in history, the military, sports and global issues.

Najib Razak also said that he prayed daily for the country to be safe and prosperous.

WOMEN TO BE ‘EYES AND EARS OF GOVERNMENT’, SAYS NAJIB RAZAK

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched a women community group programme today to enable women to report crime and threats to national security.

The 1 Malaysia Perwani Community programme, which aims to set up 100,000 Perwani groups throughout Malaysia comprising 10 to 20 women each, will be linked to organisations like the Police Families Association (Perkep), the Malaysian Armed Forces Family Welfare Association (Bakat) and the Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants Association (Puspanita).

“The role of the Perwani group is to be the eyes and ears of the government in fighting crime and threats to national security,” said Najib Razak in a speech at the One Million Women Purple Walk event at Dataran Putrajaya here today.

“This can be achieved through current organisations like residents’ associations, Puspanita, Perkep, Bakat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), and other NGOs like women’s and single mothers’ groups,” he added.

Najib Tun Razak also stressed to the crowd of thousands of women dressed in purple that the government wanted to empower women and include them in the mainstream of the country’s development process.

“In our struggle to realise our country’s vision, women play an important role,” he said at the event celebrating International Women’s Day 2013.

Najib Tun Razak  pointed out that 30 out of 62 High Court judges are women.

Najib Razak also urged government-linked corporations to appoint at least one woman in their boards.

However, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) latest Gender Inequality Index released last week showed that Malaysia ranked 42 out of 148 countries surveyed last year.

While Malaysia performed better than Thailand (66), the Philippines (77) and Indonesia (106), the country again trailed Singapore, which placed 13 in the chart that graded countries based on the level of women’s empowerment, their economic activity and their reproductive health.

While women make up half of Malaysia’s 13.1 million-strong registered voters, the UNDP noted that women formed only 13.2 per cent of the elected lawmakers in Parliament.

Political analysts and observers have said that women and young voters form a significant voting bloc that could decide which party wins the 13th general elections due just weeks away.

Najib Razak said today that women made up 62 per cent of university graduates.

The UNDP, however, reported last Friday that women comprised only 43.8 per cent of the Malaysian workforce, showing men still dominated the labour market.

According to the UNDP, 29 Malaysian women died from pregnancy-related problems for every 100,000 who delivered their babies safely.

The global theme for International Women’s Day this year is ending violence against women.

Domestic violence, however, has been on the rise in Malaysia for the past three years, from 3,173 cases in 2010 to 3,488 cases last year, based on police and government statistics provided by NGO Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).

But rape has declined steadily over the years from 3,626 cases in 2009 to 2,998 cases in 2012.

Najib Tun Razak: Govt committed to continue empowering women

Najib Razak

PUTRAJAYA: The government is committed to continue empowering women in the country towards ensuring their full potential can be realised and enhanced, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the government not only recognised their importance but had included them in mainstream development and in transforming the country.

“In our history… in the struggle for independence… in our struggle after independence…in our struggle to achieve the nation’s vision…women played an important role towards achieving the aspirations and goals of the country.

“That is why we are gathered here today, to trigger waves among women, so that women come forward and in turn raise the spirit, that national aspirations cannot be achieved without the empowerment of women throughout the country,” he said when launching the 1 Million Women Purple Walk 2013, here .

Also present were the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa.

The Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said that as a result of the government’s efforts over the years, many successes had been achieved by women, for example in the field of education.

“In higher education centres, why is that 62 per cent of the enrolment comprise female students … this is due to their having the qualifications, “he said.
Najib Razak also said that the government would continue with its policy of having 30 per cent of women employed at the decision-making level.

“Now 30 of the 62 High Court judges are women, of the secretaries-general in ministries, seven of them are women with the latest being in the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Najib Razak also said he wanted government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) appoint at least one woman or more to their boards.

“The national transformation policy will not be achieved if women are not given equal opportunities, not empowered and included in the mainstream, not only at the highest level but also at the grassroots,” he said.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan launched the state level 1Million Women Purple Walk 2013 with almost 10,000 in attendance in the Sports and Youth Complex in Paroi. — Bernama

Don’t throw 50 years of hard work away, says Najib Razak

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday called upon the people not to throw 50 years of hard work and dedication away by voting in the Opposition.

Najib Razak said the Opposition, made up of three different parties with conflicting views, was unable to even decide who among them would lead the coalition if they came to power.

“The BarisanNasional presents you with a proven track record, while the Opposition comes to you with nothing,” he said in the “Conversation with the Prime Minister” programme aired over TV3 last night.

“We began our transformation programme in 2009 to bring the nation to greater heights and we can now see and feel the results of this agenda. “We have more to do and we appeal to the rakyat to give us the mandate to complete this.”

Najib Razak, who is also the finance minister, said Malaysia’s economy had become strong and was on track and had been able to buck the external global economic trend.

In the last quarter, Malaysia achieved a 6.4 per cent growth, indicating the resilience of the national economy.

“I can quote you the statistics that indicate the strong resilience of our national economy,” he said.

“When we talk about benefits to the people from 2009 to 2011, our Gross National Income (GNI) per capita has grown from US$6,670 to US$9,970, roughly about 49 per cent.

“There is no country in the world that has achieved this kind of result.” On the BR1M, Najib Razak dismissed allegations that it was an election gimmick and said it was part and parcel of the BarisanNasional’s economic strategy to assist the people.

Najib Razak said the government had been giving plenty of indirect subsidies to the people, especially in the form of fuel subsidies, which was open to abuse. “However, with BR1M, we are targetting only a selected group who need this help,” he said.

“We have to date spent RM3 billion on BR1M, but on fuel subsidies, we spend about RM30 billion annually.”

Najib Razak said BR1M had also helped the local economy get stronger by giving the people a little more spending power.

Asked when the next general election would likely be held, Najib said it would be held within the ambit of the the Federal Constitution.

Najib appointed Selangor BN election chief

Najib Tun Razak

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will lead Barisan Nasional’s (BN) polls blitzkrieg in Selangor as its newly-appointed election director, state leaders decided yesterday, in a move that shows the pact’s determination to recapture the country’s richest and most industrialised state.

Utusan Malaysia Online quoted Selangor BN coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed as confirming that the decision was made during a state BN meeting last night, where leaders strategised on the best formula to ensure Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is toppled in Selangor after Election 2013.

“The Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also BN’s state chairman will lead the election machinery in Selangor and this shows his continuous efforts for the party, showing his confidence and his ‘hands on’ approach in Selangor,” he was quoted as saying.

The Sepang MP also revealed that he would be helping Najib (picture) as his deputy elections director in terms of planning and mobilising the state’s election machinery.

BN lost the country’s wealthiest state and three others ― Perak, Kedah and Penang ― in a historic upset in Election 2008, when the federal opposition also captured 82 federal seats to deny the ruling coalition its customary two-third parliamentary majority.

BN later took back Perak in an electoral putsch in February 2009 and has been working hard to unseat PR in Selangor.

In recent months, Najib, who is faced with the tough task of ensuring BN takes a comfortable majority in Election 2013, has been traversing the length and breadth of the country, spreading his pledges of reform and transformation as he urged Malaysians against changing the government.

But observers believe the next electoral race may be neck-and-neck between BN and the fledgling Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, which has grown significantly in strength and numbers since its surprise victories in the last federal polls.

Much focus will be placed on Selangor, said to be the country’s engine of economic growth, where talk is that PR’s administration under first-term Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim may not have performed well enough to sustain its 2008 support.

PR currently has tenuous control over the country’s richest state and holds 36 seats in the 56-seat state assembly and 17 out of 22 parliamentary seats.

A swing of seven state seats towards BN in the next general election, which must be held by June, will allow the federal ruling pact to recapture Selangor with a simple majority.

The 13th general election is expected by the second week of April, a month after Najib ends his “Janji Ditepati” (Promises Fulfilled) national tour and his BN completes its candidates list and manifestos, sources have said.

The Malaysian Insider understands the prime minister’s last stop of the tour is in his Pekan parliamentary constituency on March 16, after which he is expected to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and seek a dissolution of Parliament.

“The Election Commission (EC) normally sets polling day about three weeks after Parliament is dissolved, so we expect the earliest is mid-April,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider.

There had been speculation that Parliament would be dissolved this week and a general election will be held by the end of March, more than five years after the last general election on March 8, 2008.

The EC will set the polling date with a minimum 10-day campaign period and is expected to do so after Parliament and all state assemblies except Sarawak are dissolved. Sarawak had its state elections in 2011.

The Malaysian Insider previously reported that the BN manifesto will be ready by the end of this month while activists from the component parties have already started their ground work.