GE14 after Chinese president's visit?

PETALING JAYA: The 14th general election (GE14) is unlikely to be held before the Chinese New Year in mid-February as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak needs to keep the Cabinet intact when China's President Xi Jinping visits Malaysia in October.
According to a report in Sin Chew Daily today, during his working visit, Xi and Najib will witness the official opening of Xiamen University's Malaysian campus in Bandar Sunsuria, Sepang.
Many political analysts have predicted that GE14 would be held either in September or October but the daily's report said Xi's visit may cause it to be pushed back.
It reasoned that when Xi visits Malaysia, Najib and his Cabinet will play host to the Chinese premier, which means Parliament must not be dissolved prior to that in order to keep the Cabinet intact.
Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told the daily that the government has not received the final details of Xi's trip but very much looks forward to the Chinese premier's second visit to the country.
There is cooperation between Malaysia and China in many areas under China's One Belt One Road initiative and Malaysia hopes Xi would come to witness the progress made so far in such tie-ups, he said.
Liow said the Chinese Communist Party will hold its 19th national congress in the latter half of this year and Xi is expected to visit Malaysia only after that.
"As a rule, Chinese leaders do not hold bilateral talks with their peers from other countries prior to the party congress," he said.
Najib had invited Xi to visit Malaysia during his trip to Beijing last November and the latter had agreed to join Najib in officiating the opening of Xiamen University Malaysia.
Last month, Najib attended the One Belt One Road Summit in Beijing.
Xi last visited Malaysia in October 2013.