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MACHO MAN IN THE MAKING (TodayOnline) - IT could be a universal truth that the Malaysian general election is likely to be held in the next two months, but Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi - the resident "Mr Nice Guy" of politics up north - may still surprise many by calling for an election not before April 15 after the political ban on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is lifted.
But why take such a risk?
Foremost, Mr Abdullah desperately needs an image overhaul: No more "Mr Nice Guy", and no more getting bullied.
Simply put, Pak Lah - as he is affectionately known - must become a modern-day Hang Tuah, the legendary Malay hero from Malacca whose gung-ho image made him local folklore's most famous name.
Detractors would cite Hang Tuah's betrayal of his loyal friend Hang Jebat but that aside, Malaysians love a strong-headed leader, even one who does not mince words.
They are a far cry from New Hampshire voters whom analysts said had cast their votes for Ms Hillary Clinton after she shed tears on television.
An informal reading of public sentiment on Dr Mahathir Mohamad's reign as Prime Minister would lend credence to this.
While in Kuala Lumpur last November covering a string of protests, a local journalist friend said that some Malaysians hanker after the long-gone days of Dr Mahathir. Despite his many flaws, he added, Malaysians were proud Dr Mahathir could hold his own against world superpower America and still ensure economic growth.
My journalist friend is not the only one who feels so; another Malaysian professional I know voiced the same sentiments.
It is to counter such perceptions, and perhaps save his political office, that Pak Lah must up the machismo factor.
Already, he has shown signs of a tougher streak. In one of his strongest assertions two months back, Mr Abdullah publicly declared - just a day after lawyers took to the streets to uphold freedom of assembly - that he would "not feel guilty or sad" in signing detention orders for illegal protesters.
Slightly more than a week later, he did exactly that - detaining five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders under the Internal Security Act.
And, what better way for Mr Abdullah to become more like Hang Tuah than to confront Mr Anwar in an open election? This courageous act in itself could win Mr Abdullah some votes.
Besides, Mr Abdullah had already beaten his political nemesis in the small Selangor town of Ijok last April when Malaysians last took to the polls.
That by-election, seen as a preview to the upcoming general election, saw Barisan Nasional's (BN) candidate K Parthiban beat Keadilan's Khalid Ibrahim by a 1,850-vote margin, after more than 90 per cent of Indians voted for BN.
Mr Yang Razali Kassim of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies said some key leaders of the United Malays National Organisation believe Mr Anwar can be finished off politically. By that reckoning, an election after April 15 is likely.
Mr Anwar said last week his back-up plan would be to contest a by-election if polls are called before his ban is lifted. A showdown will occur eventually, so Mr Abdullah may decide to meet Mr Anwar head-on in the general election.
Even party insider S Sothinathan of the Malaysian Indian Congress said he would not be surprised by a later date.
Without explaining his reasons, he told Today: "Everyone is saying it's in March but it could be from April to June."
Punters for an earlier date said the government may reduce fuel subsidies now that the price of oil has hit US$100 a barrel. Last November, Mr Abdullah said the government might cut oil and gas subsidies totalling RM35 billion ($15.2 billion) per year.
More than oil, Mr Steven Gan of political news website Malaysiakini believed that a number of crises - the unhappiness of ethnic Indians, allegations of a corrupt judiciary and even contention against its election process - have caused the ruling coalition to rethink an early election date.
The decision now lies with one man.
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