Calling polls government's prerogative, says Dr M
Dr Mahathir Mohamad reminded the opposition today that deciding when to call a general election is a prerogative of the government that no one can question.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad reminded the opposition today that deciding when to call a general election is a prerogative of the government that no one can question.
The former prime minister said: “Nowhere in the world does this question arise at all. It (calling of an election) is the prerogative of the government. It is the same in all countries.”
“If they (the opposition) want to set the election date, they have to be the government first. But if they are to be the government, they will not allow us (any say),” he told reporters in Putrajaya after witnessing Proton deliver electric vehicles at the PM’s Department for test driving.
He was commenting on a call that the opposition was alleged to have made for a discussion of the election date with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
On conditions that the opposition was setting for joining the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform, Mahathir said he believed that the government would accept its suggestions if they were reasonable.
“But the government may have different views,” he added.
On speculation that the next general election would be held in February next year, Mahathir said: “I know Najib, but I cannot read his heart.”
- Bernama
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