NAJIB'S SWANSONG: HE WILL BE FORCED TO STEP DOWN AS PM BY END OF THIS YEAR

While UMNO leaders are in denial that a rebellion is brewing within the organization and there is a renewed bid to oust Najib as president and from being the prime minister of Malaysia, there is growing evidence among the branches that a change of leadership is in the air.

The Asean Summit is probably Najib’s swan song as the prime minister of Malaysia as former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad begins his most serious and most determined bid within UMNO and the use of opposition politicians to remove Najib and Rosmah from the power throne.

The UMNO assembly that is supposed to gather at the end of the year is meant to validate and affirm Najib as president of the political party and Prime Minister of Malaysia. But UMNO party insiders are of the opinion that the 21,000 branches are now being urged to reconsider Najib’s position.

It is no secret that Mahathir is leading the charge in wanting to see a change of leadership in UMNO and according to sources many UMNO branches are posturing themselves in a neutral position though Najib has a fair amount of backing.

But with so much negative press about the antics and atrocities of Najib and Rosmah, the coming weeks before the UMNO assembly will be pivotal to see on whose side UMNO members swings. Will they heed the call of Mahathir or will they stick with Najib and maintain the status quo?

More bad news for Malaysians

It’s obvious by monitoring media reports from Malaysia and those abroad concerning Malaysia that Najib is not out of the woods yet and this might mean that there will be more bad news for Malaysians in the coming months and for next year, year 2016.

In what was considered a surprise move in the middle of November 2015, Najib instructed all Government-Linked Companies (GLCs), agencies and departments that are having assets abroad to liquefy them and bring them back to Malaysia to boost finances.

This is because from the time the outcome of the 13th GE was known till now there has been a flight of capital by foreign investors. GLCs, if they are able to bring back all the funds invested abroad, will see a return of RM17 billion to Malaysia.

But while the amount of capital flight cannot at this stage be confirmed, what is known is that the RM17 billion on the way back is insufficient to balance the Malaysian government’s finances and other avenues of raising money is now being mulled by the finance ministry.

Unfortunately for Malaysians there appears to be ideas on board that include increasing the Goods & Services Tax, doing away with BR1M and other dangerous and deadly ideas which are set to see the burden of the ‘rakyat’ becoming heavier.

Najib and Rosmah engage in risky behavior

Political play and ploys in Malaysia now being engaged by Najib and Rosmah is not about alleviating the suffering, hardship and misery of Malaysians but about trying to save their own skin. This has resulted in risky behavior being undertaken by both Najib and Rosmah.

Both Najib and Rosmah have proven that they are heartless and are totally unconcerned about how they try to save their skin and cling on to power. This is why Mahathir, a growing number of UMNO leaders, and opposition politicians are in a most desperate bid to salvage Malaysia.

Ever since the 1MDB controversy came out into the open, a can of worms has opened up, and in the resulting chaos and confusion, there was a deluge of scandals centering on Najib and Rosmah and UMNO leaders and top civil servants.

Malaysians of all walks of life were witness to the sinister activities of Najib and Rosmah ever since they took over control of power in Putrajaya, and yet, many months later it is unbelievable that they are still in power and trying now to consolidate their position.

In the process of trying to strengthen their position, Najib and Rosmah have dispensed with all care and caution and have till now engaged in a series of highly risky and dangerous behavior to which the Malaysian population have reacted with shock and horror.

Warding off the challengers

While Mahathir is leading the challenge in wanting to oust Najib and Rosmah from power, it is notable to say that there are a growing number of Malaysian personalities and organizations that are also trying to mount a challenge on Najib’s position as Prime Minister.

But while so far these challenges have been disconcerted and sporadic, the days up to the end of this year is expected to see a formidable thrust and a more united and cohesive form of action in which Najib will have no option left but to step down.

This is the contention of supporters and Mahathir loyalists who have been covertly working hard in the background quietly building up those that will be defiant and rebel and reject Najib outright at the UMNO assembly at the end of this year.

While a ‘No Confidence’ motion to be tabled in Parliament might not be able to be undertaken in the immediate future, the UMNO assembly at the end of this year is set to be a fiery affair and already supporters of Najib are warning UMNO members of doing anything out of the ordinary.

But whether the calls of these UMNO leaders will be heeded or those of the rising numbers of UMNO member’s who see Najib and Rosmah now as a heavy political liability, will get the upper hand, awaits to be seen.

But the run up to this year-end’s UMNO assembly is set to indicate how Malaysia will fare on the political and economic front for next year. This is why there is great excitement and a growing belief that finally change will come and deadwood Malaysian leaders will be forever removed from office. - MAILBAG