15-day election campaign period appropriate – Dr M

NILAI: The 15- day campaign period set by the Election Commission ( EC) for 13th general election (GE13) is appropriate as it will avoid tension in the society.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a longer election campaign period might rile up party supporters or voters and trigger chaos in the country.

“A long campaign like the six weeks in 1969, will worsen tension among the contesting parties and may lead to chaos. Two weeks is appropriate,” he said after launching the Criminalise War Club (CWC) launched by his wife and club patron, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, here yesterday.

TheEConWednesdayannounced that polling was set on May 5 with the nomination date of candidates set on April 20. Early voting was set on April 30.

Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years, also expressed confidence that Barisan Nasional ( BN) could achieve better results in GE13 compared to GE12.

“It is not impossible for BN to win two-thirds of parliamentary seats in the coming general election.”

Commenting on the debate challenge by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, he said it was unnecessary since he was not contesting and was not a party adviser.

“But if he ( Kit Siang) were to ask, I can answer and vice versa,” said Mahathir who is also patron of Kuala Lumpur Foundation To Criminalise War ( KLFCW).

He said that a special law should be formulated to prevent war and resolve conflicts between nations.

This was to ensure that countries which wage war on others were considered as having committed a crime and legal action could be taken against them.

“Our aim is to make the war a crime. This ideology will be spread worldwide as we feel the young generation must understand that war is a crime.

“However, this does not mean that we can’t make preparation and wage a defensive war when attacked,” he added. — Bernama