BARISAN TO DISCUSS GE14 PREPARATIONS
A SPECIAL Barisan Nasional meeting is expected to be convened on Jan 3, most likely to discuss preparations for the 14th General Election. The meeting will be chaired by BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
MEETING TO FINE-TUNE PREPARATIONS AND STRENGTHEN THE ELECTION MACHINERY AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL
CANDIDATES' LIST FROM 13 COMPONENT PARTIES TO BE DISCUSSED
LATEST DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENS SPECULATION THAT POLLS WILL BE HELD AFTER CHINESE NEW YEAR
ASPECIAL Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting involving the coalition’s 13 component members will take place on Jan 3 and is likely to discuss preparations for the 14th General Election (GE14).
The meeting is likely to discuss details, such as finalising candidates for GE14, as well as measures to be taken to strengthen the coalition and its respective component parties election machinery.
Several BN component party leaders confirmed that such a meeting would take place on the said date.
“Yes, there is,” said Gerakan deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah Soon Hai when contacted for confirmation of the special meeting involving the coalition taking place.
A Parti Bersatu Sabah source also confirmed receiving an invitation for the meeting, but declined to elaborate on the details that will likely be discussed.
“Yes, it is true, there is such an invitation to attend and I am sure that such it had also been received by other Sabah (BN) component parties, “the source said.
It is learnt that a number of Sarawak BN component party leaders had cleared their schedule for the said date, in the event they were requested to attend the meeting.
The latest development strengthen’s speculation that GE14 will be held early next year, with Parliament expected to be dissolved after the Chinese New Year celebration, which will take place on Feb 16 and 17.
Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his mandate to delegates at the party’s general assembly earlier this month had stated that Umno and BN was prepared to face the upcoming polls.
Another source told Berita Harian that the actual meeting involving the 13 BN members was supposed to take place on Dec 12, but had to be postponed due to factor which could not be avoided.
This included the tight schedule involving Najib, who is also the BN chairman, as well as his series of official visits abroad to Turkey, Sri Lanka and Maldives, recently.
“It is understood that the meeting will be held to finalise preparations to face GE14 in the first quarter of next year, specifically to strengthen the election machinery at the grassroots level,” the source said.
The source also said the meeting would discuss the list candidates that were submitted by each component parties.
The source added that it would be based on the “can win” element, as well as the acceptance and approachability candidates to the people.
The constitution states that a general election needs to be called when Parliament is dissolved or it reaches a maximum term of five years.
The current Parliament kicked off its term on June 24, 2013, therefore Parliament will be dissolved as of June 24.
As a general election needs to be called no later than two months after Parliament is dissolved, therefore, the last possible date for GE14 will be Aug 24.