'Who are you to rebuke politicians?'
Chua Sue-Ann Jan 8, 08 1:52pm
Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s call on everyone to stop speculating on the general election date has ruffled Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang. “Who is Khairy Jamaluddin to tell everyone, including ministers, to stop speculating on when the general election would be held when he has not even been elected as a member of parliament?” asked Lim rhetorically in a statement.
Lim also asserted that although it was the prime minister’s prerogative to call for elections, it is the right of every Malaysian to speculate on its dates.
“Of course, everybody knows that he (Khairy) is the most powerful man in the country, presiding over the fourth storey of Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya and who controls and manipulates the Prime Minister's moves and decision-making.“But such unaccountable and even unconstitutional exercise of power should not get to his head to make him publicly rebuke ministers for speculating when the next general election would be held...,” added Lim.“Of course, there will be those who will argue that this prerogative of the prime minister to decide when to call for election has been usurped by Khairy. “Whatever the truth, there can be no doubt that next to Abdullah, Khairy would be the first to know when the next general election would be held.”
The prime minister's son-in-law was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times today that it was the prime minister’s sole prerogative to decide on the election date.
"I do not understand why everyone from the politicians to the Election Commission chairman is speculating on the election date,” said Khairy.
Speculations rifePrime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been widely expected to call the general election early this year but there are speculations about a sudden reservation on the government’s part due to the recent issues of street protests, a minister’s sex scandal and public anger over high fuel and food prices.Natural Resources and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid and Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman are amongst those who have recently been quoted to predicting the impending general elections"When I say the election is around the corner, you better believe me because it is not a joke," Abdul Rashid was quoted as saying in the media.The Star had also reported that all leave applications for police officers would not be entertained, indicating that preparations for elections are well underway.While Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau quoted sources who speculated that the elections will be held 100 days from the end of 2007.Lim could not resist adding his own speculation, stating that the parliament could be dissolved during Chinese New Year.“Considering that the Umno general assembly could be held on Deepavali, utterly insensitive of the religious festival of the Hindus, I do not rule out parliament being dissolved during the Chinese New Year, even before Chap Goh Mei on Feb 21, 2008,” he said.