KUALA LUMPUR: Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes BN will win the coming general election but foresees troubled waters ahead for the current prime minister.
He told Nikkei Asia the choppy waters were due to the fact that the party no longer wanted Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in the top position.
"There will be (infighting) because I'm sure they don't want the current prime minister to continue," he was quoted as saying in a report published today.
Dr Mahathir was drawing on Ismail Sabri's reported differences with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
This, despite Umno and BN saying Ismail Sabri was the coalition's candidate for prime minister should they retain Putrajaya.
Zahid had been pushing for Parliament to be dissolved soon to make way for the 15th general election to be held this year.
Dr Mahathir also said that Ismail Sabri, who is an Umno vice-president, might not make the cut as prime minister and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan would instead the candidate of choice.
He added that Umno's chances of winning were favourable due to its large coffers.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Gerakan Tanah Air chairman, had earlier said that Umno would win big if the elections were held this year.
He reportedly claimed that most voters from the Malay community had been enticed to return to the party due to incentives that included money.