Time for 'friendless' Najib to review his options, even Khairy

Prime Minister Najib Razak is going through a rough patch, hit by a renewed interest in the Altantuya murder, a resurgent PAS, Malaysia’s depreciating competitiveness among its global counterparts, still-plummeting foreign direct investments and low public confidence.

These are just some of the many things stressing him out now. Even a relaxing trip to attend his daughter’s engagement in Kazakhstan has turned into a nightmare.

And as if to add salt to the injury, his own deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin has barely raised a pip in defense of his boss.

Instead it was UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin who defended Najib from the barrage of questions about his alleged use of public funds for what has been tagged the 'Silk Road Wedding'. Some saw in Khairy’s move an effort to curry political favor from Najib.

Khairy sure did beat the other contenders, including deputy Trade minister Mukhriz Mahathir and Foreign minister Anifah Aman, to be first to defend Najib. In fact, it seems strange that none of Najib’s so-called friends have stepped out to speak for him

This actually reflects the sad state of affairs in UMNO where mid and higher-level warlords are seeking to further their own cause. It is also a telling indication of what they think of their president and his shelf-life as Prime Minister.

Clumsy Najib

Indeed, the silence comes as no surprise. Najib’s clumsy fumbles are playing into the hands of his rivals in UMNO especially his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who being the next in line stands to gain the most. It is now far more advantageous for Muhyiddin to allow Najib to formulate his own demise.

And perhaps this also explains the seemingly odd way the government of Malaysia has been responding to crises of late. The nation is entertained to a myriad of politicians who say everything and anything they wish, leaving it to Najib and his inner circle to explain it away using their own terms.

It shows an administration and a Cabinet in disarray, unable to keep its politicking members in check. Allowing each leader free rein to serve up their own agenda other than the one that truly benefits the people.

This is why, Khairy’s defence of the PM is a strange move. Khairy is not part of the main faction within UMNO, at least not anymore.

In fact, those in the Mukhriz camp regard him with contempt and consider him little better than a traitorous upstart for having challenged Mahathir Mohamad during the Badawi administration.

The intense lobbying especially by Mahathir himself helped Najib to say 'No' to Khairy, when the Youth Chief asked for a Cabinet position. On his own, Najib is believed to be none too happy with Khairy either. There is great suspicion that it was Khairy who spilled the beans on the Altantuya murder and Scorpenes kickback case to the press.

But Najib is now weakened and those who are supposed to be close to him are distancing themselves. They see a major collapse on the way and they don't want to be hit when the 'shit hits the fan'.

Sneaky Khairy

Now, this is playing into Khairy’s hand. As Youth Chief of UMNO, he has actually been positioning himself for this day.

To the likes of Perkasa and Pembela, Khairy was lousy and did not fulfill his role of as the customary firebrand defender of Malay rights. Instead, it was left to creaky 60-year old Ibrahim Ali, at least 25 years older and as many pounds heavier, to play this swashbuckling, heroic role.

But Khairy stuck to his guns and kept branding himself as someone who has a mind of his own. This is a person who dictates his own movement. And this makes him a useful ally and worthy opponent. He also has youth on his side, the admiration of many young UMNO members and the fire to take on opposition stalwarts head-on.

To a certain degree, Khairy shares the same traits of a young Anwar Ibrahim. But Anwar was not sneaky. Khairy still is. Look at how he milked the Kazakh 'Wedding March' on Twitter.

Can Najib use the latest developments to his advantage? Will he forge new alliances? Will he dump those who convinced him to dump 1 Malaysia and the New Economic Model? Will he finally strike out with new partners?

That remains to be seen. But either way, Malaysians should also remember that while Khairy's dad-in-law Abdullah Badawi gave Malaysia the greatest democratic space compared to past prime ministers especailly Mahathir, Badawi was also terribly inept and corruption was said to have worsened even more.

At just 34, Khairy is believed to have a personal war chest amounting to hundreds of millions. It would be wise for Najib to take stock of who can help him and who are really his friends, although it won't really matter much in the final cut.

In politics, there is a very fine and interchangeable line between friend and foe. And nowhere is this more apparent than in UMNO, the mother hotbed of intrigue.

- Malaysia Chronicle