Lim Kit Siang has taken note of the gloomy forecast for the Malaysian opposition by various analysts but noted that it hasn't been a good time for them either.

The DAP supremo pointed out that analysts had gotten several major predictions wrong in recent months.

"There have been many reports quoting pessimistic forecasts of political and economic analysts that they do not expect major changes in Malaysia despite the political and economic woes in the country as the opposition is in disarray and the absence of an alternative to the Umno/BN coalition.

"Recent times have not been good ones for analysts and even opinion polls, as evident from the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and Trump’s triumph in the US presidential elections.

"It is now for Malaysians to prove analysts and opinion polls wrong that there could be no political change in Malaysia in the 14th general election," he said in a statement today.

Lim said an effective opposition would require an agreement on common objectives.

He noted that there are those in the opposition who did not see any issues in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal.

"These people may physically be in the opposition, but their heart and soul are with Najib and Umno and they will never agree to the battle lines in the 14th general election as between "democracy vs kleptocracy"," he said.

Yesterday, international business publication The Economist said the Malaysian opposition needed to do better if there is to be change in the country.

"If change is to come, the disparate opposition needs to do a better job of winning such people over; its fractious parties must overcome their divisions and present a plausible candidate to replace Najib in a general election that could be held as soon as next year.

"Malaysia has always been an imperfect democracy, but the rot eating at its institutions is harming its international standing and its economic prospects alike," it said.

US-based business news channel CNBC had also quoted Asia Pacific investment office for UBS wealth management head Tan Min Lan as saying that a change in government in Malaysia was highly unlikely.

"There are ongoing issues, but the opposition is in disarray and therefore there is no alternative. And hence a change in government in Malaysia is highly unlikely," said Tan.