Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak recently breathed a sigh of relief when Umno's supreme council fully backed him to stay on as their leader.
But even if the pressure for him to step down were to continue, and it is, one analyst said it is unlikely that Najib would go for a vote of confidence in parliament as suggested by some.
Instead, Ideas chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan (photo) told Malaysiakini, it is more likely that the premier will call for snap polls.
"If a vote of confidence is called, then it would increase the risk that some people may not be with him (Najib).
"I don't think Najib will take risks, he will either stay or resign. [...] I think the biggest thing he might contemplate is calling for snap elections.
"Because in snap elections, everybody regardless of whether they support him or not, will have to rally around him and Umno," he said when contacted.
No need for Najib to reaffirm support
However, Wan Saiful said, there is no actual need for Najib to reaffirm support for him at the moment.
"If you want to play by the rumours of a possible challenge, the rumours that Umno doesn't support him, then yes (Najib should seek support).
"But if you go by the facts, by what's actually happening on the ground now, nobody is actually saying they don't support the prime minister.
"None of the government's MPs have said it, and even on the opposition side there are differences of opinion," he said.
On Monday, Najib (photo) received full backing from Umno's supreme council, laying to rest speculation that there would be an imminent internal move to oust him.
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang however believes Najib should still seek a vote of confidence once parliament convenes on Monday.
Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat previously said this move would make Najib's critics, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, shut up. He still believes such a move is relevant now.
"If you keep having Mahathir saying all these things (to oust Najib), what he can do is go for a vote of confidence, because then you are using parliament to confirm your power," he told Malaysiakini.
Wong however said, the cycle of pressure against Najib will unlikely end.
"What you would have is a scandal, and then some ministers or MPs making critical comments, and there will be calls for Najib to step down.
"(Then) Najib will call on the (Umno) supreme council or division heads to back him. That circle will continue," he said. - M'kini
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