KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad appears to have dismissed the results of a poll undertaken by former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, who said the government’s approval ratings have taken a dip six months after the administration changed hands.
Asked on the approval ratings, Dr Mahathir, sarcastically replied: “Rafizi definitely knew what would happen.
“In fact, his predictions with regards to the 14th general election were also spot on,” he told reporters after officiating the Sultan Abdul Hamid Old Collegians Association (Sahoca) alumni dinner ceremony here tonight.
The prime minister appeared to be taking a dig at the readings made by Rafizi’s think-tank Invoke, which prior to GE14, had predicted that Pas would not win a single seat in the election. Invoke had reportedly predicted that Pas would lose each parliamentary and state seat it aimed to contest, even in Kelantan.
Pas eventually won 18 parliamentary seats and 90 state seats in GE14.
On Wednesday, Rafizi said the Pakatan Harapan administration should be reviewed in light of waning public approval for the new government.
Rafizi had also said that this was reflective in the decline in Dr Mahathir's approval ratings which stood at 53 per cent in a survey conducted earlier this month, a 19 per cent dip from a similar survey done some six months ago.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir was also asked to comment on DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s statement that DAP is prepared to leave PH if the government abandons its New Malaysia objectives.
"I do not know what is he talking about. I cannot comment on that,” said Dr Mahathir.