CENSE's prediction is no big deal because it is just a prediction -Karim

June 22, 2012 

KUCHING: State Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi has played down the prediction by Centre of Strategic Engagement (CENSE) that Barisan Nasional (BN) could lose up to 10 seats in the Chinese-dominated constituencies in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the prediction was only a political ploy.

“Well, it (prediction) depends on the political inclination of those in the group, so I believe it’s purposely for political ploy,” the Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication) said yesterday.

The Kemena assemblyman said this in his SMS when asked to comment on CENSE prediction of BN losing up to 10 seats in the three states in the Chinese-majority areas.

On the other hand, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the prediction was no big deal.

“As it is, the 10 predicted losses include the seats already held by the opposition now, and it’s no big deal…the prediction by CENSE is just a prediction,” he said.

Having said that, Abdul Karim admitted that some BN component parties would face some difficulty in the urban areas which are basically Chinese-majority.

But he promised that BN would not give in without a good fight.

The Asajaya assemblyman also pointed out the fact that the opposition had won seats in elections showed that democracy was still alive in the country.

“The opposition winning the seats in the elections reflects that our democracy is alive and all the accusation by the opposition that Election Commission and BN are manipulating the election is just baseless,” he said.