POLITICAL CARNAGE: After no-show at forum, Najib to face NO-CONFIDENCE vote in Parliament?

Najib Razak’s position is undeniably under siege, with society at large unconvinced that he has been able to afford a reasonable explanation for the 1MDB fiasco. He has also not been able to assume leadership in times of crisis, which is exacerbated by allegations of unashamed display of opulence by his family.

Mahathir Mohamad, Najib’s mentor turned tormentor, is leading a very successful campaign against Najib. The prime minister is clinging on to his position in trying to seek support from members of his cabinet, his political party and the public. Such shows of support have to be examined in the real sense, and whether it will stand in the face of the continued onslaught of exposes of the farce of 1MDB. Najib’s credibility could well have been dented into a state of disrepair, and his premiership may well have run its course.

Najib’s no-show at the Nothing2Hide forum, organised to allow him to explain himself out of the situation meets the perfect description of the proverbial own-goal. Coming so soon on the back of his declaration of his warrior spirit, he has put himself in a further disadvantaged position. All the excuses made have only the effect of further undermining his office and the state of Malaysian democracy.

The Mahathir dilemma

Mahathir had been a bane to his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and is now proving to be the same with his protégé Najib. Clearly, as with his time in office, he can see nobody but himself in the position of prime minister. His biggest regret must be in taking the decision to step down. During his time in office, he saw off deputy after deputy and threat after threat to his position using means which divided the country and compromised the institutions which are prerequisites to a democracy. It will take a political revolution for there to be any hope of a restoration.

The police have been used to serve the interest of the ruling political party. Mahathir himself has now been on the receiving end as we have witnessed at the Nothing2Hide forum.

Now though, with Mahathir leading the exposure of the 1MDB scandal, the discerning public is facing a dilemma of its own – whether it should back Mahathir and as to what his real agenda is.

The answer is that we should deal with every issue on its own merits. In this case, Mahathir is right in raising the questions which deserve a response from Najib and his government.

Chaos in the Opposition ranks

The Opposition is being riven by its own issues at a time when it should be at its united best to examine and expose the 1MDB scandal. Tony Pua, Lim Kit Siang, Nurul Izzah and some others are doing their best despite being hampered by a biased mainstream media.

The alternative which the Pakatan Rakyat had offered since the 2008 elections is now seriously challenged. A clear position needs to be taken as to whether the ideological differences can be reconciled. The Malaysian people need to know and the current state of flux is unhealthy and unsustainable.

An Opposition coalition fractured into a state of disrepair will be a disappointment but may result in things morphing into a different state where another alternative will be developed. The political restlessness of the people in Malaysia will not allow a return to the old one-party state of poor governance.

In pursuit of the truth

The 1MDB scandal has the opportunity of uniting the people to demand for transparent and proper governance. All questions deserve an honest answer and where there is no reasonable explanation, there has to be political consequences. The government of the day has to take responsibility and it owes that little to the people.

Relying on the Inspector General of Police to cancel a forum like Nothing2Hide as soon as there were signs that the prime minister will be on the back foot is an abuse of power. If any incident occurred, it was the duty of the police to handle the incident. If there is to be a potentially sensitive and hostile debate in Parliament, would the IGP then take the decision to suspend Parliament? Is Malaysia now a police state?

Najib has to face up to the public and respond to the allegations on the 1MDB fiasco. He can start by facing a confidence-vote in Parliament. - FMT