Grand gestures will not save Najib

The Prime Minister's display of strength is nothing but sound and fury

COMMENT

Our Prime Minister is fond indeed of lurid displays. Every event is “special”, coordinated like a well-oiled machine designed for spectacle and to shield the country’s head honcho from the plebeian masses. Even now, in his time of peril, where his approval ratings have plunged to a mere 44% despite his efforts to appease the old guard of Umno, Najib’s sense for the theatrical has taken over as he summons Umno division heads to show their support for him in a show of strength to tell his political enemies that he will not budge from his place on the throne.

In movies, it is a rousing sight indeed to see the king standing in the midst of his troops, ready to charge into hell and high water to the final victory. Today, at this rally of Najib’s strength, he will attempt to recreate that imagery, but it will fall flat in full sight of his enemies. The grand old man, especially, will not be impressed.

For one, there are way too many chains weighing down the Prime Minister from regaining support. As many commentators have observed, Najib is too busy defending his political career to effectively govern the country, and the rakyat knows this. A leader who cannot address the problems faced by a country is one to be disposed of, and unless Najib remembers that his position implies responsibility to the rakyat, that day will come sooner rather than later.

Then there is his beleaguered pet project, the 1MDB. So much controversy surrounds the wealth fund, from scandals over the alleged involvement of one Jho Low to the billions of ringgit that are seemingly unaccounted for, that this may yet prove to be Najib’s greatest white elephant. In fact, the perception of 1MDB is so overwhelmingly negative that members of his own party have spoken against it, including the grand old man, Mahathir Mohamad, and to earn his displeasure is a death sentence in Malaysian politics.

And then there is his wife, the First Lady of Malaysia. Perhaps no figure is more contoversial in contemporary Malaysian politics, and her cultural impact will likely be a topic of academic discussion long after Najib steps down from the seat of power. Some posit her as the greatest weakness of his administration, with her love of the luxurious and expensive, her jet-setting ways, her ubiquitous involvement in the government of the day. Whether that is truth remains to be seen, but there is no denying her cultural impact, or the disdain she invokes from people.

When you consider all that is arrayed before the Prime Minister, it is hard to imagine a situation in which he wins. Some have speculated that he will step down today, ushering another revolution in Malaysian politics, but such an action goes against the character already shown by Najib. For all his faults, Najib will fight tooth and nail to keep his place. He has shown that to keep power, he will take any and all measures.

If Najib has any hope of retaining his position, he must deal with the issues honestly during this rally of Umno’s division chiefs. A leader who cannot take feedback and learn from it is doomed to fail. The theatricality of the moment will not save Najib. It is merely a moment of sound and fury, signifying nothing, unless Najib can be honest with himself and tackle the real issues plaguing his administration. If he does not, his downfall will be swift, and it will come without mercy.