Arif Shah has potential to get more votes - Chedet

Though not optimistic on Barisan Nasional (BN) winning the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad feels BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah has a good chance of getting more votes compared to previous candidates.

The former prime minister also believed the BN candidate had the potential in reducing the vote majority of his opponent, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the by-election on Aug 26.

"Datuk Arif Shah may get a better majority this time compared to the poor results obtained by the other candidates," said the former prime minister to reporters after opening the Galeri Dunia Seni Lukis here, Friday.

Nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-election is Saturday.

Dr Mahathir also acknowledged the Chinese language proficiency of Arif Shah, saying that the added language would be an advantage for him in getting more votes especially from the Chinese voters.

"I'm still not that convinced that he (Arif Shah) can win but in view of his Chinese education, the Chinese voters may be attracted to him," he said.

On calls made by the PAS Ulama Council pushing for their party president to become the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat succeeds in forming the new Federal Government on Sept 16, Dr Mahathir said: "BN is more solid. Pakatan Rakyat is not a proper coalition...it's just one party taking advantage of the people... not a proper coalition... just an understanding to contest in the general election."

The Ulama Council head, Datuk Mohamed Daud had during its assembly recently called for Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be made the prime minister as he was more qualified.

Commenting on the upcoming budget on Aug 29, Dr Mahathir said the budget this year would be a significant one as the world was moving into recession.

"For the first time, everything has gone up in price simultaneously, and (it's a) high percentage... never happened in the history of the world," he said.

-- BERNAMA