Despite the recent price hike of essential goods still sour in the public's mouth, Tony Pua believes that the public may taste a general election within six months.

"I think it will be soon because the BN is confident," said the DAP member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara.

"You can tell from the convention that they just held, and the by-election victories.

NONE "They are okay with the subsidy cuts . Because if everyone is feeling good they believe that its impact will be diluted," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.

This, Pua ( left ) believed, may coincide with the money flowing into the stock market. He noted though that it seemed to come from mainly institutional investors like the EPF, and other funds.

"If I want to be cynical, I would say that money goes in so that people can sell high, and fund a general election."

Stock market movement

However Pua reasoned the government may also be trying to create a feel-good environment which some think is also a sure-fire pointer towards an election.

He added that while stock market punters may play the market, they are wise to the reasons for its movements.

NONE "Some think that the BN is not yet ready, that not all the contracts have been awarded and they have not churned the funds out yet. They think that the PM would bring it to a higher level."

"To me that is is not guaranteed, because things can change very fast. Between Sibu and Batu Sapi-Galas, Pakatan was on the up, but very easily within a short time, BN came out tops."

Pua contended that the election will happen within six months as things can change rapidly and BN knows it.

However he surmised that it would be folly to underestimate Premier Najib Abdul Razak ( left ), who was personally responsible for the fall of Pakatan-led Perak.

"He did this decisively with proper planning and execution. I anticipate the same thing for the general election," warned Pua.