Meeting with MPs part of the incoming GE 13

Najib says BN MPs meet part of move towards polls

By Clara Chooi

January 07, 2011

Najib: First of all, we have to serve the people and then let the people decide.

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shed some light today on his impending meeting with Barisan Nasional MPs tomorrow, admitting that the move was “geared” towards the general election. The prime minister however remained coy on details of the meet and would not expressly say if discussions would specifically centre on preparations for the polls, widely expected this year.
“Everything is geared towards the GE (general election) because we want to be re-elected... and we want to serve the people.
“First of all, we have to serve the people and then let the people decide,” he told a press conference at his office here today.
He was responding to a question if his session with the MPs was specifically to prepare for the general election.
Najib also denied that the meeting tomorrow confirmed talk of a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
“Reshuffle? Who said there is a reshuffle?” he said, smiling.
The prime minister revealed that he would be briefed by the MPs on the present situations in their constituencies, adding that this was a part of his political transformation effort.
“The purpose is normal, they want to meet me and I too want to meet with them to know the situations in their respective areas.
“It is both ways — I need to tell them what to do and I need to know their positions in each of their constituencies,” he said.
The Malaysian Insider reported last Saturday that Najib will meet all 136 BN lawmakers this weekend to gather feedback on holding early elections as coalition leaders appear to be divided on dates.
The 13th general election was at first expected to be in the first quarter of 2011 —  over the March school holidays — but the BN is seen to be reconsidering that until a slew of economic projects initiated start to boost local economy.
Najib’s advisors are pressing an early June date due to fears that a predicted slowdown of the global economy could affect the local economy in the third quarter.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Najib had earlier last month discussed with BN component leaders the possibility of holding the next general election in either May or June.
TMI