Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today openly conceded that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition will not be able to repeat its astounding electoral feat at the 2004 polls.

“2004 was an exceptional time. It was a transitional period, a time of high hopes. Now we have to implement, and implementation requires a lot of things,” said Abdullah at a press conference after a meeting with Umno leaders at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

He said what he had promised was meant for the long term and not just for within the BN's mandate term of five years.

When asked by journalists whether the ruling coalition would be able to do as well as it did four years ago, Abdullah was realistic in appraising its chances.

“I don’t think so. If I (can) get (the same results), I would be very happy (but) I’m being very, very practical...

"(In 2004) there was a change of stewardship in the party, there were expectations (for) a lot of things to be changed but I can’t change everything.

“There were expectations (that) this had to be done and that had to be done but it is not that we haven’t done anything. I have begun to implement practically everything that I’d promised. I’ve begun to do it and it is in the process (of implementation). And that’s what we are doing.”

In the general election four years ago, BN won over 90 percent of the parliamentary seats, or 198 out of 219 seats.

However in the run-up to the widely expected upcoming polls, the government is being battered by a number of issues - from high crime rates to the high cost of living as well as growing disgruntlement among the country’s ethnic minorities.

Abdullah had earlier met with 191 Umno division and information chiefs at the party headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre to brief them on current issues.

At the two-hour meeting, Abdullah who is also Umno president, briefed the leaders on a number of issues, among others, the rising cost of living. Preparations for the general election were also discussed.

While saying that he was happy with the current mood within the party, he said there are several minor issues “which needed to be sorted out in certain states which I don’t want to name”.

He also warned party leaders not to do anything that will tarnish the party’s name at risk of action being taken against them.

Anwar not a political threat

When pressed about when he would dissolve Parliament and call the general election, Abdullah was coy.

“I don’t know when to call it (the general election) yet but there are certain things that we still need to pay attention to,” he reiterated.

“There are many preparations yet to be finalised. Nothing is final,” Abudullah said at the press conference, flanked by his deputy Najib Razak and party secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

Abdullah also dismissed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim as a political threat.

“(He is) not a threat. Who is he to threaten us?” asked Abdullah, referring to Anwar who is now de facto leader of the opposition PKR.

He was terse when asked about the opposition's electoral pact which will ensure straight fights with BN in key states such as Penang.

“Good for them,” he said.

The prime minister was also asked to comment on the health of the stock market with Bursa Malaysia suffering a sharp drop today - shedding 54.12 points to close at 1,354 - in tandem with global sentiments. The plunge was the worst since Sept 11, 2001.

“That’s not a serious fluctuation. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down. We are performing at a very high level - above 1,000 (points).”

He said that this showed that investors still have confidence in the local stock market.

When asked whether the higher Employees Provident Fund dividend announced today - it is 5.8 percent for 2007, up from 5.1% the year before - was an election ploy, he answered:

“When we have extra money and we can afford, we give. That has nothing to do with elections.”

Ban on overseas trips to stop lobbying

In another development, Radzi also clarified the party directive barring party leaders from leaving the country purportedly to prepare for the upcoming elections.

According to him, the ban is meant for those Umno leaders who sponsored overseas trips to places like Medan in Indonesia in a bid to lobby for support.

“The directive is not for individuals but for groups of people. If you want to go to official functions, the umrah (minor pilgrimage) or medical treatment, you can go.

“The directive is aimed at groups who try to take party members overseas, for instance, taking party members to Medan to lobby for support,” the Umno secretary-general said when met later.

Though Radzi did not elaborate on the matter, it is an open secret that Umno leaders are known to pay for overseas trips for party members in return for backing their candidacy in the general elections as well as for party polls.

It was earlier reported that Radzi had send a circular to all party divisions stipulating that all Umno members are “not allowed to leave the country”.

Watch 10-min video of PM's press conference