The suspension of Bank Islam's economist - a sick man refusing to acknowledge his illness

Bank Islam's suspension of its economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin over his prediction of a likely victory for Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election shows that Barisan Nasional is like a sick man refusing to acknowledge his illness.

Online portal The Malaysian Insider confirmed speculation that Bank Islam has suspended Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin as its chief economist over his prediction of the likely results of 2013 Malaysian general election.

Azrul Azwar was last week reported by Singapore’s The Straits Times to have predicted a narrow win by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the upcoming Malaysian general election as the most likely out of three possible scenarios.

I was at the Regional Outlook Forum 2013 organised by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) on Thursday 10th January 2013 when Azrul presented his analysis.

Azrul discussed three scenarios, namely a narrow win by Barisan Nasional, a narrow win by Pakatan Rakyat and a big victory by Pakatan Rakyat.

At the annual regional forum that discusses political and economic trends, speakers are expected to do exactly what Azrul did - to present various scenarios for the year to come and to make predictions.

Malaysia is again the butt of international joke where analysts lose their jobs for making election predictions.

Is Barisan Nasional a sick man refusing to acknowledge his illness and is rattled by any suggestion that its demise is near?

Liew Chin Tong DAP Political Education Director & MP for Bukit Bendera