Despite 1MDB woes, pundits say Najib now unassailable after Cabinet purge

© Provided by The Malay Mail Online According to political observers, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is likely to remain prime minister until the next election despite his troubles with debt-riddled 1MDB. ― File picKUALA LUMPUR, July 29 ― With the strategic removal of potential challengers from within his Cabinet, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is likely to remain prime minister until the next election despite his troubles with debt-riddled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), political observers said.

With a specific reference to his deputy in government as well as in Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, the analysts said the prime minister has effectively neutralised dissent within his party at the risk of enlarging the rift between the camps of both leaders.

“Najib will stay as PM, what he has done is standard textbook on political survival, a carrot-and-stick approach where you get rid of your detractors and reward your loyalists,” Universiti Malaysia Sarawak political scientist Dr Faisal Hazis told Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday.

“Najib is flexing his muscles, this move will consolidate and strengthen his position.

“I don't see how Muhyiddin can unseat Najib, or anyone else. Najib's actions are in line with Umno's culture of patronage (and) sends a strong message to critics to not mess with him,” Faizal added.

Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian said Muhyiddin could have challenged Najib while he was still deputy prime minister, but likely did not have enough backing to make a move.

“I am not sure that Muhyiddin has the support to muster a serious challenge towards Najib. If he did, he would have already made his move,” he told Malay Mail Online.

Such an overt move by Najib, however, will likely lead to a clash between Najib and Muhyiddin, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political analyst Prof Shamsul Adabi Mamat said.

Shamsul stressed that what Najib did was necessary to keep his ministers in line and to send a strong message that they should not criticise him publicly.

“But the controntation between Najib and Muhyiddin will be unavoidable. It depends on Muhyiddin's next move on whether he wants to challenge Najib.

“But I predict camps from both sides will clash,” he said.

Professor Shaharuddin Badaruddin of Universiti Teknologi Mara believes that Muhyiddin does not have enough influence or support within Umno to mount a credible challenge against Najib.

“As for what can Muhyiddin do, I think he does not have any strength since he's only a regular MP.

“He can move a motion of no confidence against the Cabinet but he would need the support of all Umno MPs first. Given the culture of political patronage in the party, I do not see this happening,” he told Malay Mail Online.

“Remember that the culling is meant as a warning to all Umno leaders at all levels to tow the line or face the consequences,” the academic added.

In a hastily called news conference held in Putrajaya yesterday, Najib announced that Muhyiddin was dropped from all Cabinet posts ostensibly for publicly questioning the prime minister’s alleged links to the 1MDB financial scandal.

Muhyiddin had during the weekend urged Najib to satisfactorily explain the 1MDB controversy, claiming that he and other ministers were unaware of the “real facts”.

This resulted in a rare public rebuke from the Prime Minister’s Office Monday, which urged Muhyiddin and other members of the administration not to pre-judge the ongoing investigations on 1MDB.