Bickering opposition keeping Najib in power, says report

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The fragmented opposition has allowed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to remain at the helm despite the allegations against him, according a Bloomberg report.

"The opposition's back is already broken," Merdeka Center's Ibrahim Suffian told the publication.

"Despite the scandals, there are no practical means for any political backlash to affect Najib because his opponents have become fragmented and ineffective in mobilising the public through electoral means," he said.

Ibrahim (photo) also said it was not certain how PAS would reconcile with its former allies, adding that if these parties do not set aside their differences and join forces, "it would be hopeless" for the opposition.

Similarly, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Faisal S Hazis said that opposition parties failed to learn from past mistakes.

"People are just fed up with the bickering," added the Centre for Asia Studies head.

This was in reference to the opposition parties contesting against one another, an extreme example of which was the recent Sarawak state election, which saw even allies DAP and PKR battling each other in six seats.

Faisal (photo) said there are only two ways to unseat the prime minister, one of which is through Umno.

He pointed out that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had attempted to do so in vain, whereas Najib managed to consolidate his position within Umno.

"Second is when a united, cohesive and viable opposition coalition wins the next general election. The second option is not what Mahathir is willing to take," he added.

In a recent interview published in DAP organ Roketkini, Mahathir said it was up to the people to choose the government, and this included one that favoured his once heir apparent turned nemesis, Anwar Ibrahim.

However, Mahathir insisted that Najib must be removed first.

The former prime minister and the opposition coming together for the Citizens' Declaration has also been a problematic issue for both sides as some cannot digest the former foes sitting at the same table.

Anwar made it worse when he penned an eight-page letter from prison, warning PKR on the dangers of working with Mahathir.

Meanwhile, the Najib has denied the allegations against him, blaming them on Mahathir and those conspiring with the former prime minister to topple him from power. -Mkini