Daim: His Bleakest Prediction for BN

While not mentioning the strength of BN in Sabah and Sarawak, Daim Zainuddin has now openly predicted the bleakest scenario for Najib in the impending GE.

He expects BN to have an easy victory in only three states — Johor, Malacca and Pahang.

Giving an exclusive interview on the 13th GE with Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau that was published today (20 March 2012), Daim counseled that BN must have a suitable leadership line-up if it hopes to recapture Kedah and Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat.

Retaining Perak would be an uphill battle for BN, he mused while in Negri Sembilan where BN rules with a six-seat majority, the state BN must resolve some specific problems.[I am sure there is much bickering here between incumbent Hassan, Rais Yatim and Khairy Jamaluddin].

As for Kelantan and Penang, Daim says BN would be fighting a losing battle in the two Pakatan strongholds.

Describing Najib Razak and his team as “generals without soldiers”, Daim opined that though the prime minister and other key leaders have done enough, their current situation is that of ‘generals without soldiers’.

He asked pointedly, “Where are BN’s soldiers?”

The leaders at division and branch level have yet to show leadership and must be more proactive in engaging the people.

He felt that Najib currently has team members 'who are not on the same page' with him.

He added that in parliamentary elections, depending on a single person such as the prime minister is not going to be enough for success. BN needs a team. As it is, he believes the prime minister has done enough but the problem is that people cannot see his team. He needs to tell the people where his team is.

In parting, the veteran politician advised Najib, in no uncertain terms, 'to cut out the deadwood'.

In retrsopect, it was Daim who correctly predicted that the BN will lose its two thirds in Parliament as well as cede the state governments of Penang, Selangor and Kedah to the opposition in 2008. Annoyingly for BN, his predictions came true.

Will Najib trust Daim’s prediction this time around?