Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin’s prediction that Barisan Nasional (BN) will win in the upcoming 13th General Election and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not the right candidate to be a prime minister, has invited mixed reactions from both side of the political divide.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Idris Haron said Daim is known to give opinions based on sound research, facts and figures.
“He predicted that the opposition will topple BN in five states and it happened. This time around, he took into account BN’s performance and sincerity as well as other factors such our hardworking prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The people has already given an opportunity for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to rule in several states and they have proved that they could not handle fundamental issues like the water problem.
“One has to keep in mind that PR’s leader, Anwar, was not democratically chosen. On one hand they promote democracy while on the other, they fail to observe democracy. What more, they don’t even have a common logo. From that fact itself you can see that they have no unity,” he told Astro Awani today.
Idris also said he believes that Daim’s prediction will come true.
Putera MIC coordinator, P. Kamalanathan said Daim is spot on on his judgement on whom should be the better PM.
“Najib is clearly and comprehensively the better choice. As far as BN is concerned, we are more focused on working for the people and let our effort to translate into election victory.
“Overall, we are cautiously confident,” he said.
Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said no one can predict what will happen in the future.
“It is very clear that Daim and former premier Tun Mahathir Mohamad were against Pak Lah when he was the prime minister. Mahathir was openly campaigning against Pak Lah.
“Now, since BN is facing threat from PR, Daim and Mahathir join hands to bring power to BN. It is a life and death matter for them,” he said.
Chua said at the end of the day the question to ask is whether to change the government.
DAP vice chairman M. Kulasegaran said Daim himself was not a proper candidate and that was why they kicked him out from contesting in the 2008 general election.
“He should first explain why Kedah lost as he used to be the Member of Parliament for Merbok. We want a free and fair election. Let the voters decide who is the better candidate to become PM or which party will win in the next General Election.
“I think he is definitely a spokesperson for BN. He is not a fortune teller to simply predict the election result,” he said.
The 74-year-old Daim, told New Sunday Times that said BN only needs support from the fence-sitters to win as it has a secure over 4 million votes through its members.
Daim also said if given a choice between Najib and Anwar, he will choose the latter.
“I will give Najib the chance. I want Najib to win because I don't think Anwar is the right candidate to be prime minister.
“I believe he will mess up the country by getting advice from the likes of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank and Wolfowitz (Paul Wolfowitz, former World Bank president).
“I will support Najib, but he must fight corruption and crime, strengthen the nation's security and review the education system,” he told New Sunday Times.
Daim also urged Malaysians to give Najib a mandate.
T K Letchumy Tamboo
Sun Mar 24 2013
Kadar capaian internet di sekolah di Melaka memuaskan - Exco
Kerajaan Negeri Melaka akan terus mempertingkatkan kadar capaian internet di semua sekolah termasuk di kawasan luar bandar walaupun kini ia berada pada tahap memuaskan.
AWANI Ringkas: Selesaikan segera isu kewarganegaraan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Sultan Selangor zahir ucapan takziah kepada keluarga Tun Hanif Omar
Turut menzahirkan ucapan takziah ialah Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
TH anjur Kursus Perdana Haji bermula hari ini hingga 5 Mei 2024
Sepanjang kursus selama satu setengah hari ini, bakal-bakal haji akan melalui praktikal seperti bertawaf, sa'ie, melontar jamrah dan ibadat haji lain secara berkumpulan.
Jenazah Tun Hanif Omar dikebumi di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kiara
Jenazah Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar akan dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kiara.
Wanita ditahan bantu siasatan kes simbah OKU dengan air panas
Polis menahan seorang wanita bagi membantu siasatan kejadian seorang lelaki sindrom Down melecur pada bahagian badan disyaki akibat disimbah air panas ketika berada di dalam lif.
Kepimpinan MPN PKR Sabah: Tiada nama spesifik dibincangkan - Fahmi
Ketua Penerangan PKR Fahmi Fadzil berkata tiada nama spesifik yang dibincangkan berkaitan kepimpinan Majlis Pimpinan Negeri (MPN) PKR Sabah.
Pemergian Tun Hanif kehilangan buat negara - Musa Hassan
Pemergian bekas Ketua Polis Negara (KPN) Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar adalah satu kerugian buat negara.
Wanita maut, dua lelaki parah kereta langgar pokok
Seorang wanita maut, manakala dua lelaki cedera parah selepas kereta dinaiki mereka terbabas sebelum melanggar sebatang pokok di tepi jalan dalam kemalangan di Jalan Macalister awal hari ini.
Israel perlu waspada jika negara Asia Barat masuk campur
Israel seharusnya mengambil pengajaran daripada konflik dengan Iran supaya tindak bertindak sewenang-wenangnya mencabuli hak rakyat Islam, terutamanya Palestin.