The Ipoh Barat MP said he expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to call for early election to get a new mandate and to avoid an expected global economic downturn in 2011.
Kulasegaran added that Najib was also expected to use the short period since taking over the government to convince voters that he would need more time to deliver his promises.
“I believe that Najib will dissolve the Parliament not later than second half of next year due to three factors,” said Kulasegaran in his speech at an election workshop organised by Ipoh Timur DAP.
“Recently, Prime Minister Najib had said the government would not dissolve Parliament to make way for the general election based on one opinion that people favoured him, but the election date would in fact be a surprise to all,” he said citing Najib’s remarks that the election date would surprise everyone.
Kulasegaran said the upcoming Sarawak election would also be a good indicator for the next election date.
“However, if the Sarawak state election is held soon after Hari Raya and BN performs well, I will not rule out the possibility of Najib dissolving Parliament even this year,” said Kulasegaran.
“Of course, if the Sarawak state election is only held next year, then Najib’s promise for a surprise election may come true, a simultaneous holding of the parliamentary and Sarawak state elections,” he added.
On the party’s preparation for the next general election, he said that DAP must field better quality and winnable candidates.
“Next general election will be a most crucial election for the nation as it will be an election for the first time in our nation’s electoral history where many political analysts believe there exists the real possibility of a change of Federal Government,” said Kulasegaran.
“In the past, it was always a foregone conclusion that BN would continue to rule,” he added.
Kulasegaran also asked his party leaders to be prepared for what he expected to be the dirtiest election campaign.
“It would not be surprising if BN uses all its resources in whatever way and tactic it can, namely money, threat and the media to win. We should expect the next election to be the dirtiest and the ugliest ever,” he said.
