Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has always stressed the importance of a united opposition to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election.

Maybe this is why Mahathir did the unthinkable – forgoing his 18 years of animosity with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in favour of a reconciliation.

Many saw this as a sign of something to come, as part of efforts to unite the opposition.

But Umno is not going to just sit down and do nothing about it. Recently there have been talks that the 14th general election could be held as early as March next year.

And this has been acknowledged by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who conceded that the early election may be held so that new party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) would not have time to organise itself.