Dead end in Umno, will Dr M cross the Rubicon?

Since the onset, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been campaigning for the ouster of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the premise that if the latter remains at the helm, Umno and BN might be defeated in the next general election.

But this clarion call has gained minimal traction among those in Umno, and now with the removal of his son Mukhriz Mahathir as Kedah menteri besar, the feud has become personal.

This prompted a DAP lawmaker to wonder if the former premier would cross the Rubicon, and work with the opposition.

"There is huge anger to tap outside Umno and Mahathir is, of course, expert in tapping public anger. But it is a dead end road inside Umno.

"The question for Mahathir now is whether to cross the Rubicon. When the dice is cast, the political landscape will realign permanently," said Liew Chin Tong in a Facebook posting.

Contacted later, the Kluang MP said the ball is now in Mahathir's court.

"He has to think of how to work with others. He is more desperate than us (in wanting to remove Najib). He has to come out with the framework.

"The outside (of Umno) world is much better," he said.

As for Mukhriz, the DAP lawmaker said he was unable to secure a majority because members of his own faction "defected" instead of supporting him when interviewed by the Regency Council.

"Then and now, everyone has a price tag in Umno and there's no way to win against the president. The president can bend the rules...

"Mahathir even disbanded the old Umno in order to form Umno Baru to exclude the rival faction in 1988," he pointed out.

Given the latest developments, Liew said it is 'cul-de-sac' for Mahathir, his son and former deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin in Umno.

However, he said there is immense public anger towards Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, and this has turned the likes of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz into folk heroes.

"Mukhriz is not of great political acumen but suddenly his victimisation is giving him star-like stature.

"Finally, Mahathir found a perfect proxy in his son if Muhyiddin is too lazy and uninterested to endure the hardship of toppling Najib," he added.

Apart from being branded as a traitor to Umno, crossing the bridge would also mean that Mahathir has to reconcile with a political coalition that was born in the aftermath of his decision to sack Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. -Mkini