KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Sunday that he will "not necessarily" call a snap election next year, amid talk that he would seek an early vote as splits in the opposition have hobbled efforts to oust him over a long-running financial Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
The multi-ethnic Southeast Asian country is due to hold an election by August 2018, and a government official has told Reuters that Najib could call for a poll in the second half of Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
But in an interview published in The Star daily on Sunday, Najib, who has led the country since 2009, suggested he was in no hurry to call for a vote, and remarked on the current lack of a "feel Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosongfactor" among Malaysians.
"Not necessarily... it can be later," Najib replied when asked whether an election could be called sometime next Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
"With today's economic situation, it's going to be a challenge because you don't see the world economy on a rising trend. It's going to be much more the same next year, as the year before," Najib Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
Najib has been battling calls to step down over a scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong).
The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits in July alleging misappropriation of over $3.5 billion from the fund and that some of those flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", whom U.S. and Malaysian officials have identified as Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
Najib has denied wrongdoing and has consolidated power by sacking critics within his ruling party and cracking down on Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
His fiercest critic is former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who is over 90 years old. Mahathir joined hands with Najib's sacked former deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to form a new party. But the main Islamist party's failure to join efforts by other opposition parties campaigning against Najib, has made it hard for them to whip up more support among ethnic Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
Anwar Ibrahim, the most charismatic opposition leader, is serving a five-year sentence on sodomy charges that supporters and many observers believe were politically Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
Looking ahead, Najib said he expected some recovery in oil and gas revenues to help the national Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
"After that I think that the price of oil will likely be at a slightly higher level, not at the all time high, but something between $60 to $70 per barrel, will be a comfortable level for us," he Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
The Malaysian economy has been hit hard by the slide in oil prices. A recent slump in the ringgit currency to a near 14-month low has also raised Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
In the interview with The Star, Najib also said a free trade deal for the Asia Pacific region was important to create jobs, investment and Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would withdraw the United States from the multi-country Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which excludes Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
And Najib said if the TPP is a non-starter, he would hope that agreement can be reached on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a China-backed trade deal which excludes the Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
"If the TPP is a no-go, then RCEP must be brought to a conclusion, the earlier the better and I think realistically we are talking about the end of 2017," Najib Watch Jobs in Malaysia 2018 On Jawatankosong.
