COMMENT | (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) is fully aware of the dire consequences to him if he loses. He will therefore leave no stone unturned in his effort to get the votes for the 14th General Election. He knows the possibility of losing even in his constituency of Pekan. In 1999 he won only by 241 votes and that also by hijacking votes of soldiers encamped in other constituencies.

For some time now he is striving to starve the opposition of funds.

Elections are costly. Posters, flags and buntings need a lot of money. Literally hundreds of thousands of these have to be produced. They will cost millions. The workers must be paid allowances, fed nasi lemak and bottled drinks. There will be tens of thousands of them. At two bottles a day, 30,000 to 40,000 of bottle will be drunk.

Then the vehicles have to be rented or borrowed. Fuel would have to be paid for.

Rallies and ceramahs cost money. Thousands will attend and some drinking water would be needed. Tents and stages and public address systems will have to be rented.

All these need millions. If you do not have millions you cannot influence the people. Najib has billions. He is ensuring the opposition receive no donations.

How? By imposing taxes on any money owned by even the relatively rich. And so - Money of more than RM 40,000 taken out from the bank will be asked to be accompanied by details as to how the money is to be spent. Any hint that the money is to be donated to opposition parties will meet obstacles in withdrawals, and harassments from income tax people.

Any borrowing for this purpose will not be approved.

The LHDN (Inland Revenue Board) will demand for payment of back taxes sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions. If disputed, the tax payer must pay first or be black listed. He may even be raided, records and passports seized.

If the court finds there is no justification, it would take years before the money is returned...