Nomura Research updates their forecast on GE14 dates

Nomura Research says in a report that the possibility for Malaysia’s 14th General Elections (GE) could be held between the months of March and July 2018.

This is a revision from an earlier report they published on May 4 this year which they say that the window to hold a GE will appear between September and October this year.

Nomura makes the case that the government will now have to wait until the third and last session of parliament this year – from October 23 to November 30 – to call for a GE because the research house says that parliament has yet to approve key legislations.

These key legislations that needs to be approved by the government includes the revised boundaries for the Sabah state legislature, which is a pre requisite to holding the Sabah state election soon. Another legislation that has yet to be approved is the PAS’ President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill on the Islamic courts.

Nomura also said that another key factor that the government needs to complete before the upcoming GE is the delimitation exercise.

The Japanese-based financial institution said that another case that needs to be made on an election occurring next year and not this year, is that they anticipate that more assistance for rural and lower-income groups is likely to be done in 2018.

They said that these assistance would be likely targeted and surgical with this aim to increase the impact while running on a fiscal consolidation agenda.