PRIME Minister Najib Razak is mistaken if he thinks he can call for an election tomorrow, riding on the good feelings supposedly kindled by his visit to the United States, says Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“He’s mistaken if (he thinks) there are any good feelings,” the former prime minister said today of Najib’s working trip to the US on September 12.  

Dr Mahathir said Malaysians were unhappy that the country, which was already in debt, was giving money to the US to build infrastructure.

“People are very sore about it. And he was very badly treated (in the US). No official reception. Nothing. No lunch or anything like that. No press conference.

“It’s almost as if both he and Trump wants to hide the thing (the visit),” said Dr Mahathir. 

Najib was received in the White House by US President Donald Trump in a meeting that made mainly unflattering headlines in US newspapers and local online media.  

During the visit, Najib announced that  Malaysia Airlines would purchase 58 Boeing aircraft, including eight 787 Dreamliners, in a five-year deal worth US$10 billion (RM42 billion).

Najib also pledged up to US$4 billion in investments from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) into US infrastructure. 

EPF’s existing investments in the US already total US$7 billion.

Opposition lawmakers and online newspapers have slammed both announcements, saying the Malaysian economy was in no shape to expend its resources on bolstering the US economy. 

Dr Mahathir said, speaking as a former prime minister of 22 years,  Najib’s options of election date were limited.

“There is the problem of public holidays, which he has to avoid,” said Dr Mahathir, who led Barisan Nasional to win in five general elections.  

“There is also the problem of schools, which are used as polling centres. It must be during the school holidays while also avoiding public celebrations. 

Asked when he expected the election to be called, the Pakatan Harapan chairman said, “Maybe this year, maybe next year.”

“Pakatan is always ready.” – September 15, 2017. – September 15, 2017