Najib fights to stop breakup of Sabah BN: GE-13 in 2013, RM1.5m extra funds on the cards

In the last lap to the 13th general election which must be held by mid next year, it looks like Prime Minister Najib Razak is resorting to 'money, money, money' to buy back a victory that more and more Malaysians believe will swing to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Najib had received a huge scare over the weekend on speculative news reports that Anwar would be announcing 6 BN defections into his PKR party, two of whom allegedly held seats in Parliament.

While this would not change the power equation, pundits expect the PKR coup to set in motion a domino effect as Sabah leaders fled the decaying BN, helping to pave the way for the country's first regime change in 55 years.

Unconfirmed 'carrots' to hold back straying MPs

Not surprisingly, news was soon leaked to the Umno-linked media that MPs would receive an additional RM1.5 million each after the Budget 13 was presented on September 28.

According to the Malaysian Insider, BN MPs who attended a pre-council meeting for the current parliamentary sitting confirmed such a plan was proposed by Najib but oddly, none would go on the record on the actual amount to be allocated. Several said that the funds “would be available upon request.”

“We have to request it for specific projects,” Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusof was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

The BN MPs were also more than keen to impart other information including that it would take up to three months for the projects to be identified and carried out. They also pointed out that the proposed second round of cash handouts under the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia or BR1M scheme would also take time to be executed if passed in Budget 2013.

"What this means is that Najib won't be calling GE-13 anytime soon. He is trying to delay the breakup of Sabah BN," PKR vice president and Batu MP Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"But he is looking for a miracle that won't happen. Sabah is being watched closely and it can trigger a domino effect around the nation as other BN MPs cut ties with Umno to boost their chances of retaining their seats. Umno-BN is not the best brand name to carry in Malaysia right now and that's a fact."

GE-13 next year, all eyes on Umno internal election

Malaysia's 12th general election was held on March 8, 2008, with the current batch of lawmakers sworn in on March 28. Hence, the BN's 5-year mandate ends on automatically on March 28. The Election Commission has then 60 days to fix a date for the 13th general election, which must be held before June 28, 2013.

A guessing game as to the GE-13 date has left Malaysians as well as foreign investors wearied and disgusted with Najib's inability to make up his mind. However, the 58-year-old leader is facing an unprecedented loss in confidence and trust for his BN coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since 1957.

"Going by the hints and for the second BR1M to take effect, it looks like Najib is trying to signal GE-13 is next year. For us at Pakatan, we cannot afford to relax our guard. Every day is a possible day for Najib to dissolve Parliament - so we must stay battle ready," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

"But it's another story at Umno, What happens now at their internal party election - who will form the new office bearers and get the coveted MP and ADUN seats? That is the bone that all the dogs so to speak will be fighting over from now on."

Fire from all fronts: All eyes on Umno now

Indeed, it does look like Najib will face fire from all fronts, especially from his own party mates who are eager to thrash out who will make it onto the Umno list of 'winnable' candidates to contest seats at both the federal and state parliament.

Infighting, already simmering, and factions openly declaring their stand will test his ability to hold the party together. Just last week, former Tourism minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir - perhaps smelling which way the wind was blowing - announced the formation of a new party Ikatan that aimed to revive the 'original' struggle of Umno and to work towards the creation of a 'Bangsa Malaysia'.

"Ikatan has said it won't contest GE-13 and for sure it won't get a licence to do so from the authorities but it doesn't really have to. There will be many Umno MPs unhappy with Najib who will join Ikatan to make their stand if Najib overplays his hand in the party polls and grabs everything for himself, his men and Mahathir's," an Umno watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.

He was referring to former premier Mahathir Mohamad, the only Umno stalwart left on whose support Najib is now depending on to survive the political maelstroms from within and outside their party.

Malaysia Chronicle