Abdullah likes 13

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad likes 13 very much because it has played a significant part his life.

Parliament was dissolved on Feb 13.

Besides the Dewan Rakyat, 12 state assemblies with the exception of Sarawak were dissolved – bringing the total number of legislative bodies to 13.

It is no secret that 13 is Abdullah’s favourite number.

All his vehicles, be it private or official, have registration plates bearing the number 13.

His love for this particular number goes way back and his cars have been carrying the registration number 13 since he was a Foreign Minister.

“Yes, I like the number 13. It’s because nobody wants it. Those who are superstitious may say habislah if they get number 13.

“If people do not want it, let me take it,” he has said.

The number holds further significance as his daughter Nori’s birthday is on Jan 13, while that of her son and Abdullah’s only grandson, Jibreil Ali Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, who was born last year, is Sept 13.

This time the Election Commission gave 13 days for all parties to do their campaigning. The polling day is on March 8, and if Barisan were to be returned to power, Abdullah might also announce his new cabinet on Mar 13.

Meanwhile, four-digit punters are betting on the number 7224 and 6308 after the Election Commission set Feb 24 for parties to nominate candidates and March as the polling date.

The Star reported that a punter said that the first numbers 7224 denoted Sunday for the nomination day, while 6 in 6304 was for Saturday for polling date.

7224 has come out 12 times in Magnum since July 9, 1987 and latest draw was Mar 4, 2007 which is a consolation. 7224 came out second prize on August 23. 6308 is not that lucky, it only came out 4 times, 3 specials and 1 magnum.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Adb was quoted by The Star saying that the police will arrest those involved in illegal betting activities.

Under the Betting Act, this kind of behavior carries a RM 200,000 fine and a five-year jail term.