IS HE REALLY ILL? Najib must clarify rumors he had a stroke & was resting in Singapore - Rafizi

PKR leaders have called on the federal government to clarify red-hot rumors that embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak had recently suffered a minor stroke so that the people and investors could keep track of what was happening in the country's top leadership.

"Yes, I have heard the rumours since Friday. We were told he had suffered a small stroke and was resting in Singapore. This is what we heard. These are serious speculation and should be clarified. The best person to do that is Najib himself," Rafizi told a press conference on Monday.

Really ill or another ploy by his Umno rivals to force him to quit?

Malaysia is due to hold a general election this year that is widely expected to be 'historic', possibly ushering in the first regime change in the country since 1957. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition are expected to sweep to power, replacing a disunited and corruption-riddled Umno-BN.

There has been strong speculation that Najib's own party wanted him replaced ahead of the 13th general election, paving the way for his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to step in. Muhyiddin is believed to have secured the backing of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who still wields enormous clout in their Umno party.

According to Sarawak Report, Najib's doctors have been on standby all weekend. Red-hot rumors Najib suffered a MINOR STROKE NEW PM FOR MALAYSIA? Najib to be forced to step down on 'health reasons'?

Umno watchers are split in their views of what was really happening in the party. Some believe Najib had indeed fallen ill, others believe it is a ploy to allow Najib to make a "graceful exit". There are also those who believe the news was leaked by the Muhyiddin and Mahathir camps to add to the pressure on Najib to quit. 

"This is not the first time Najib has health issues. Remember he also had surgery for his knee," said Rafizi.

Tremendous pressure

It would not be surprising if the news of Najib's stroke turned out to be true as he has been conspicuosly absent from the public eye for weeks.

There has been tremendous pressure on him to reply to corruption allegations made by Deepak Jaikishan, a controversial businessman who was a former close friend of his wife Rosmah Mansor.

Apparently, more expose's are in store and the coming days will be carefully monitored by political watchers for signs that Najib will step down. Deepak has promised to continue with his slew of allegations against the first couple despite receiving RM30mil from public-listed firm Boustead Holdings Bhd in a deal that critics say reeks of corruption and abuse of power.

Deepak had revealed he paid Najib's family "millions" to secure approval for a Ministry of Defense land privatization project involving Selangor Umno Women's chief Raja Ropiaah. Rafizi too has accused Najib of abusing his power and pressuring Boustead, which is 61%-owned by Armed Forces Pension Fund LTAT, into the deal so as to appease Deepak and cover-up the scandal.

"This is daylinght robbery. It is outright bribery (using Armed Forces pension money) to silence Deepak and to cover up the scandal," said Rafizi.

His PKR party will be lodging a police report against Najib on Tuesday.

Rosmah's diamonds and helping Deepak

Last week, Rafizi also made public a series of invoices from two of Hong Kong's top jewellers showing that Deepak's firms had bought 19 pieces of exclusives jewellery worth RM13 mil purportedly for Rosmah in 2009.

"So far, I have not spoken to Deepak yet. Only through a third party," Rafizi told reporters.

He has promised to help Deepak reveal several corrupt deals that the latter allegedly received when he was still part of Rosmah's inner circle.

Malaysia Chronicle