Daim: BN to bleed seats but will keep Sarawak

By Yow Hong Chieh

March 31, 2011

Taib’s announced departure was lauded by Daim today. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Barisan Nasional (BN) will lose more seats to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the upcoming Sarawak state election but will retain a “comfortable” majority, Tun Daim Zainuddin said today.

“I think Barisan will win with a bit more seats probably going to the opposition,” he told the audience at a public lecture at Universiti Tun Abdul Razak here today.

The former finance minister predicted in late 2007 that Penang, Selangor and Kedah would join Kelantan as opposition-held states after Election 2008.

BN lost its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament in the landmark election and Daim’s prediction came true when BN ceded the four states along with Perak in what became known as a “political tsunami”.

Daim also said it was good that Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud intends to step down after the state polls, saying no leader should “overstay” his welcome.

“You see what happened to Mubarak, what happened in Tunisia. He must know when (to go),” Daim cautioned.

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