PKR: Najib still unfazed by 1MDB troubles

Sivarasa Rasiah doubts the internal squabbling in Umno over 1MDB has weakened Prime Minister Najib Razak in any way.

KUALA LUMPUR: While many are entertaining the idea that Najib Razak may not complete his current term as prime minister due to relentless attacks by former premier Mahathir Mohammad, PKR’s Sivarasa Rasiah is of the opinion that he is unfazed by the whole thing.

“I don’t think Najib’s position is weakened as some of the public believe.

“In fact, I think he’s in a very strong position, ” said the Subang Jaya MP at a PKR forum in Kuala Lumpur last night.

According to Sivarasa, Umno politics has always been about money, and Najib has a “war chest” worth billions courtesy of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), to buy his support and consolidate power.

While not ruling out the possibility of a deeper schism occurring in Umno, similar to that which happened in Semangat 46, Sivarasa said it was unlikely Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasmin would replace Najib any time soon.

“The good news about it is that Tun Mahathir now will not stop attacking Najib, which will only help Pakatan in the next election,” he said.

Sharing a similar opinion was Syed Husin Ali, another speaker at the forum who claimed that many underestimate Najib’s knack of perseverance.

He added that Najib had plenty of time to learn Umno politics from Mahathir himself, and that he was using what he had learnt, against his master now.

“But even if Najib wants to quit, I don’t think his wife will let him,” he joked, followed by laughter from the crowd.