PM DS Najib Razak will also on the side attend a big gathering for the opening of the new Chong Hwa High School, Kuantan.
Then there are also going to be other big events on the same weekend such as the F1 race which will showcase the Malaysian success.
On the other end, the Negeri Sembilan state assembly will automatically dissolve when its current term expires on Tuesday, March 26.
So, the likelihood that Najib is going to announce the dissolution of parliament on Monday, March 25 is very likely.
The period between the dissolution of parliament and nomination day normally would stretch for up to two weeks.
This will be followed by a minimum campaigning period of at least 11 days.
Therefore, in all probability, polling day should be in the third week of next month.
Meanwhile, while some who claim themselves to be champions of Umno are working hard to undermine the Johor Umno leadership at the last corner to the general election, Johor-based NST journalist Sim Bak Heng who has for some time now being accused by some Johor Umno elements of being a pro-DAP hack wrote this about Lim Kit Siang's foray into Gelang Patah (well, if you are too lazy to read the whole article, at least read the last paragraph) -
GELANG PATAH GAMBIT: DAP supremo’s decision to contest down south may well backfire on him
THE fielding of DAP's 72-year-old supremo Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah may above all else be an attempt at ending the public quarrel between Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and his Parti Keadilan Rakyat counterpart Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
The duo's exchange of barbs, which stretch back over the past two years, was centred on the tussle for the seat. To end the spat was important for the opposition coalition if it wants to gain ground in the "frontline state" of Johor.
However, it could well trigger the beginning of more factional problems within DAP in Johor. It is also notable that it took none other than opposition leader and PKR number one Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to make the announcement on Lim's candidacy on Monday night.
The rumblings on the ground among DAP members were hard to ignore.
Just hours before the announcement, the party's state vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng, who is the Senai assemblyman, held a press conference lambasting Dr Boo for allegedly practising cronyism and trying to scupper the opposition's effort by fighting with Chua.
Many see this attack as an effort to undermine Dr Boo in preparing the entry of Lim and other DAP national leaders as candidates in Johor for the general election.
At the function, which was the party's 47th anniversary celebration, Lim's candidacy, which was announced by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had left Dr Boo with little choice but to accept it.
It is ironic that the announcement was made at Taman Sutera which is located in Dr Boo's stronghold of Skudai.
At that function, Lim announced that the opposition coalition's target was to capture the parliamentary seats of Johor Baru, Tebrau, Pasir Gudang, Kulai, Pulai, Gelang Patah, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Muar, Ledang, Labis, Segamat, Tanjung Piai and Sembrong. It is notable that these are all constituencies with a large Chinese population.
In 2008, DAP contested Kulai (with 56.9 per cent Chinese voters), Kluang (49.9 per cent), Labis (47.1 per cent), Segamat (46.2 per cent), Tanjung Piai (46.8 per cent) and Bakri (53.2 per cent). The party only won in Bakri.
With Lim now joining the fray, the party is likely to contest six seats again this time. One of the seats which is likely to be swapped with PKR's Gelang Patah seat is Segamat.
Some claimed that Lim actually took a huge risk to contest in Gelang Patah instead of defending his safe seat of Ipoh Timur. This includes him being sabotaged by factions within Johor DAP who may cast protest votes in favour of an MCA candidate to ensure his defeat.
MCA national organising secretary Datuk Tee Siew Keong, however, disagreed and pointed out that Lim had only been staying true to his "habit" of hopping from constituency to constituency and only chose to do so in Chinese-majority areas.
Gelang Patah will be the seventh parliamentary seat which Lim will be contesting in his political career stretching over four decades.
"He is as good as a 'political nomad'. Now, he is coming to Johor and playing his usual tricks," said Tee.
MCA youth chairman Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the party was not rattled by Lim's decision to contest in Gelang Patah.
"We are not affected by his decision because MCA has been serving the Chinese community in Johor all the time and not just on the eve of the general election."
For Dr Boo, the coming of Lim to Johor could probably mean the end of his reign as DAP number one man in Johor.
Here is little bit of history to show such a possibility.
When Lim's son, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng moved to Penang, he won the Air Puteh state seat in 2008 and quickly nominated himself as chief minister.
This had gone against the party's constitution, which stated only a state chairman, in this case Chow Kon Yeow, was eligible to hold the post. Chow has been sidelined, and there is talk he might be dropped as an incumbent for his Padang Kota state seat in the next general election.
A similar fate Chow may await Dr Boo in Johor.
Dr Boo has been known for being critical of the Lims' "father and son enterprise" in DAP for many years. Knowing that Dr Boo's popularity as Johor DAP chairman is on the rise, the Lim family probably reckoned that it was time to subdue his influence.
Lim had told the crowd at the party anniversary celebration that contesting in Gelang Patah would be the most difficult task in his political career in the past 47 years. That may be quite correct.
The tsunami, or the tornado, that he is trying to create from the south and sweep northward this time, may actually come from another faction of DAP supporters in Gelang Patah.
Instead of sweeping northward, it may well be sweeping towards his direction all the way into the nearby waters off the Tebrau Straits.
Read more: Lim risks all in Johor foray - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/lim-risks-all-in-johor-foray-1.238233#ixzz2O2ahXbzI
It's show that how arrogant the Lim family is. one steal the Chief Minister seat in Penang.Another have a seat at Melaka.His relative at Perak.His sister have ambition for the WP set. The old Mc Donald want to rob the leadership of Boo Cheng.
ReplyDeleteYou DAP balachi in all state working mostly to clean this fella 'waste'.
This is family business So What..
while some who claim themselves to be champions of Umno are working hard to undermine the Johor Umno leadership at the last corner to the general election,
ReplyDeleteooi...mintak maaflah. kao ni siapa!
jgn asyik sokong Ghani, sokong parti bukan individu
Pardon me, but there is not a single "Ghani" word in the posting. Have you been eating some chili padi for breakfast this morning?
DeleteThe grand old man should just retire from active politics. We need young and healthy people as YBs. Of course he can still be mentor to DAP. Last time I heard, he was almost blind already. Like Nik Azizi and Hadi, the Rakyat don't want to have a YB who might be spending most his time in the hospital. Furthermore, with all his family members in the top post in DAP, Rakyat in other constituent will be affected too. Their YBs will have to visit or take care their father or grandfather in hospital. (That is why a husband and wife cannot be working in the same department. Both will most probably take leave, together).
ReplyDeleteI think it's about time we enact a law, prohibiting old and sick people from contesting in GE. We want healthy politician who will not die on us in office. We do not want to waste our time and Rakyat's money with the unnecessary political issues related with by-election. We want our YBs to serve the Rakyat and make the country prosper. Not playing politics, all the time.
RD.
Malaysia is rich as shown by DUMNO giving out $$$. Real Dumno- if one is sick, how to campaign? If You are sick still go and work. Why not Dumno pass the law that all sick must lose their job and cannot work? All old people must stay at home or near cementries so they can be buried easly and cannot see doctor to avoid wasting medicine. The medicine better to spend on young people. What a real Dumno to say when old, one loses his right. This is what SRK produces?
DeleteI tried to figure out what the f*ck you're trying to say but I gave up. It doesn't sound very interesting nor profound, anyway.
DeleteAnon 16:40.
ReplyDeleteAre you a moron?
Almost all government in the world gives $$$ or subsidies to its citizens. Australia gives allowance to the jobless. Singapore also gives money to its people, like BR1M. It's the best way to revive the economy. When people have extra money, they spend and $$$ change hands. Spending thrives the economy and keep businesses running.
I am not talking about sick people. I am talking about 'always-sick old man' who still want to contest in GE, although pass their retirement age. Usually, an employee retired at the age of 55, now 60? At this age, people are usually inflicted with old age sickness. Politicians must consider the interest of the people when running for office. This is not about the rights of an individual. It's about the welfare of the majority, who voted for him/her. The rights of the community, overrides the rights of an individual.
We do not want to waste our time and Rakyat's money with the unnecessary political issues related with by-election. We want our YBs to serve the Rakyat and make the country prosper. Not playing politics, all the time.
RD.
So you say governmnet gives $$$. Why Government gives money to old and also sick people? You say We do not want to waste our time and Rakyat's money on old and also sick people. RD don't go and play politics.
DeleteThe rights of the community, overrides the rights of an individual. Go and tell the blacks, Hispanics etc in American who are minority to shutup and same with Pakis in UK.
Again, WTF are you trying to say here? It's damn unintelligible to me.
Delete