KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's leader said Tuesday his coalition would not be able to repeat its huge electoral success of 2004, as he stepped up preparations for the next polls, widely expected in March.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition won 196 of the 219 parliamentary seats in the 2004 elections, held about five months after he took over the reins from Mahathir Mohamad who had been in office for 22 years.
Abdullah said the previous results "were exceptional." The massive mandate Abdullah received was largely attributed to the euphoria over a new beginning and his promises of a more open, efficient and clean government.
Asked if he could match the 2004 results, Abdullah said, "I don't think so. If I get, I will be very happy. I am being very, very practical."
He was speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with middle-level leaders of his United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the National Front coalition. The front is made up of 14 parties representing the different ethnic groups in this multiracial nation, but most power is with UMNO, which represents the majority Muslim Malays.
Tuesday's meeting came a day after Abdullah met with top members of National Front's constituents.
Abdullah refused to say when he would call elections, or what sort of results he expects. The National Front has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957 and is expected to win again easily.
Abdullah said he reminded the UMNO workers that they should not do anything to damage the party's name.
"We want to get the mandate to continue our work to implement what we have done," Abdullah said.
The comments indicated that the party is gearing for snap elections, which are not due until mid-2009. Local media have reported that the polls will most likely be held during school holidays in mid-March, when school buildings would be required for use as polling booths.
He acknowledged there are shortcomings in the government and problems in the country.
"There were expectations for a lot of things to change. But I cannot change everything. There was expectation that this has to be done, that has to be done. It is not that we haven't done anything. I have begun implementing practically everything that I have promised," he said.
Among the biggest challenges facing the government are inflation, rising crime and tensions in the society because of frustrations among minority Indians, who feel they are not getting a fair share of the national wealth.
However, Indians form only 8 percent of the population and do not have enough clout or numbers to drastically effect the poll results.
Separately, Mahathir told reporters that the National Front "will surely win."
"No doubt about that. I don't know about the percentage ... but it will be a substantial victory," he said.
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