Lim Sue Goan

January 23, 2024 KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and 31 cabinet ministers recently joined a two-day, one-night brainstorming camp to discuss development plans that will benefit the rakyat. This shows that the Unity Government is indeed placing a lot of emphasis on the revitalisation of the country’s economy. Unfortunately, due to some unfavourable factors, it will not be easy for the Anwar administration to achieve its goals.

If more of Malay voters swing away from BN, the final outcome could be a real shocker, not unlike the US presidential election and the UK Brexit referendum. The latest polls appear to be not in favor of Pakatan Harapan. Based on the polls conducted by Merdeka Center as of April 9 this year, only about 7.9% of Malay voters are likely to swing in favor of the opposition. This weak “Malay Tsunami” is not enough to cause a change of the federal administration.

Writer suggests Prime Minister Najib Razak would have best served his party's interest if GE14 was held after last year's Sarawak polls or twin by-elections. DAP’s parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said it didn’t matter whether the next general election (GE14) would be held this year or next year, as Prime Minister Najib Razak had missed the golden opportunity to clinch the best results. Uncle Lim was right.