Reporters who expected some leads on when the country’s next general elections would be held following today’s Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting were left empty-handed when told the meeting did not discuss the topic.

The meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya began at 11.50am and ended at 3pm without a press conference by chairperson BN President and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Leaders of the 14 BN component parties were present. Asked by reporters as he was leaving the venue, Umno Secretary-General and Home Affairs Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the meeting discussed the ‘usual matters’.

PPP President and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department M Kayveas ( pix ) extrapolated that the council discussed current national issues including poverty, education and development.

He denied that the topic of the next general elections was brought up but added that Abdullah was seen to be in a ‘good mood’.

Today’s unscheduled BN Supreme Council meeting was widely expected to discuss the whether polls would be held soon. Only two such council meetings have taken place in the past two years. The meetings are generally held to discuss political strategy.

Although the BN’s five-year mandate expires only in March next year, observers say government movements strongly indicate that polls would be called on or before March 15 this year. Election Commission officials say at least 10.5 million voters will be eligible to vote.