[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 16 Aug 1999
Time: 21:16:44
Remote User: -
EARLY ELECTION RETHINK
PM Mahathir Mohamad announced some weeks ago that the ruling Barisan Nasional - the National Front - was going into "elections mode." He might be reconsidering his options. The recent embarrassingly public three-way split in the women's wing of the dominant United Malays National Organization called into question the group's unity. And the series of reports filed with the police by jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim against Mahathir allies are taking their toll. The government's forced merger of banks announced in early August disgruntled the business community. One of the institutions selected to play a lead role - Multi-Purpose Bank - is reportedly linked to powerful figures in the ruling party. And the mergers would reduce the role of Chinese-owned banks, allies Mahathir can't afford to lose (see "Then There Were Six," Aug. 13). The PM travels to China and Russia in late August. He was expected to announce the poll date when he returns. Now, there is a good chance that might not happen.