The hyped speculation that snap general elections will be held in March next year will be clarified by November, said a high-level BN source who did not want to be named.

The positive indications are there for the snap polls to be held next year, said the source, as a conducive political cooperation between Umno and the other BN component parties has emerged and is being further strengthened .

tengku adnan mansor “Now we are getting better respect and our requests for financial help and other demands are being met by Umno under the pro-active guidance of BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor ( right ),” said the source.

The source said that all the BN component parties are gearing up and preparations are being made for the expected snap elections next year.

The feel good factor, the source said, is that Najib wants to get his own mandate as the public is responding positively to the radical changes that he is making to benefit the nation.

Najib’s personal relationship touch with the various races, especially the Indian community, is gaining strength as the premier is having direct links with them instead of going through the various splinter Indian parties, claimed the source.

Another factor for the snap elections is to have Najib’s own team to work closely on his radical reforms, instead of having to work with former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s men who seem to be uncooperative to Najib’s ideas.

The source said, “The planned economic reforms for all Malaysians under the 1Malaysia concept are moving smoothly even though we are having initial teething problems.

“The political climate is good for the BN to call for the snap elections, but we have to wait for our boss Najib to make the official announcement to BN component parties, which is expected in November,” the source revealed.

When asked about the allegation that Deputy Premier Muhyiddin Yassin is not seeing eye-to-eye with Najib on reform policies, the source said it is a political move to gain the support of all Malaysians.  

Another factor for the snap polls is that the newly-minted politicians will complete three years of political service by March next year and will qualify to receive pensions.

Samy’s planned exit fuels speculation

Meanwhile, DAP said speculation that the snap general election will be held in March next year has gained momentum with MIC president S Samy Vellu’s announcement yesterday of a planned exit in January.

samy vellu mic agm 110710 01 According to DAP national vice-chief M Kulasegaran, Najib had considered Samy as  a major obstacle in the former’s objective of reaching out to the Indian community to regain the support lost in the last general election.

Kulasegaran said in a media statement that Samy ( left ) had overstayed his welcome, with several BN leaders openly calling on him to retire from politics.

In 2009, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom Samy himself has long openly admired, lashed out at Samy, describing him as a liability to the BN coalition.

Even the Prime Minister’s reminder to BN  component party leaders at the launch of MIC’s 63rd general assembly that it was  pointless for them to strive to be popular within their own party when they were unpopular with the people, was seen as a direct message to Samy to retire from politics.

However, Samy has stuck to his guns to hang on to his post and yesterday’s announcement came as a surprise as it is a strong indication that Samy has allegedly been pressured to step down to pave the way for snap elections, reasoned the DAP leader.