[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 04 Aug 1999
Time: 00:46:45
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Mahathir now says polls may be held later
A day after hinting that D-Day was nearing, Premier says he may not dissolve Parliament till he finishes another round of visits to the states
IPOH -- Premier Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still keeping everyone, especially the opposition, guessing as to when he will dissolve Parliament and call for a general election.
After hinting on Monday that polling day was drawing very near, he said yesterday he might have another round of state visits when the current series ended.
"I still haven't finished my rounds. I am doing my rounds and if I finish one round, I may even do another round," said Dr Mahathir, who is also chairman of the ruling National Front (NF).
"I have said that we will wait for PAS' flags to rot, that takes a long time, so you can interpret it in any way you like," he told a news conference, referring to the opposition Parti Islam, at the end of his two-day visit to Perak.
"The newspapers said today that very soon we are going to have an election.
"That is what the newspapers say, but I have also said other things which indicate that the election is not going to be held for a long time.
"If PAS makes its flags from paper -- it tears very much faster -- then we can have the election earlier; but if they are made of canvas, maybe...August next year," he added.
The Premier told Perak NF leaders on Monday to put their poll machinery into top gear for the general election -- including meeting members and supporters -- as he could not guarantee that an election would not be held tomorrow, a month later or in five months.
He also said he would give NF leaders time to meet members and supporters, but "not too much time".
Asked if he was satisfied with the Perak NF's preparations for the election, he said he was never satisfied.
"I think even if we have achieved 100 per cent, we must achieve 120 per cent."
The Prime Minister said he wanted the NF components to ensure that every member and individual they knew supported the ruling coalition and divisional leaders had to work harder to get to know their members as well as their stand.
Asked if his warning that some members of the NF component parties might vote for the opposition was based on feedback to him, he replied:
"The possibility is there, so we must find out, that's why I asked them to meet all the party members besides the supporters and other individuals."
The term of the current Parliament ends in June next year and a general election must be held within 60 days of its dissolution. -- Bernama