Shahbudin: The people’s patience with Najib has limits

The people in fact deserve an award for being more than patient with Najib since 2009 when he became Prime Minister.

KUALA LUMPUR: For those who can no longer remain patient with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, offered a political analyst in his latest blog posting, March 27 is a date that they should take note, remember and keep. “They can finally breathe easier after this date.”

“March 27 is a suitable date, falling on a free day in former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s schedule as suggested by former de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, to gather peacefully and reject Najib’s leadership.”

Zaid urged those who can’t wait patiently for another two years until GE14 in 2018, noted Shahbudin Husin the analyst, to take March 27 as the day for them to take the opportunity and stand up for the country. “March 27 is the day that they can tell Najib that the situation in the country would go from bad to worse if he stays on as Prime Minister.”

“March 27 is the day for the people to tell Najib that the majority no longer support him.”

Shahbudin reckons that Najib would realise, in that case, that his position was untenable. “The people must turn out in large numbers on March 27 to send a clear signal to Najib that he has to go. The gathering must be held in as many places as possible.”

“The gathering must be held every two weeks or at least every month.”

The analyst was commenting on Mahathir telling Mahfuz Omar that the people and political parties must gather across the divide and join hands to save the country from Najib. “Mahathir reiterated that he would not give up hope on ousting Najib from Putrajaya.”

Shahbudin conceded that it was eventually up to the people to decide on Najib. “If the people can continue to be patient, then they can wait until GE14 in 2018.”

“If they can no longer be patient, they can turn out on March 27 and make their stand clear.”

The analyst was also dismissing Najib, in conjunction with his 40 years in politics, warning on Saturday that there was a limit to his patience.

“My father built up Umno and I, as his son, would not stand idily by and watch the party being destroyed,” Shahbudin quoted Najib as saying. “Najib added that he was a patient man but there was a limit to his patience.”

Only those who continue to indulge in delusions will pay heed to Najib’s words, said Shahbudin. “The reality is that Umno and the country are headed for destruction under Najib’s lack of leadership.”

“The Administration has been bogged down by too many problems and personal character flaws since Najib became Prime Minister.”

In making comparisons with previous administrations, the analyst pointed out that only the Najib Administration was plagued by financial scandal after financial scandal which will end in the people carrying the burden. “Other Prime Ministers as well had problems, moments of crisis, but these were either political in nature or because of leadership failings.”

If Najib wants to warn that his patience has its limits although he was a patient man himself, reiterated Shahbudin, “he should be aware at the same time that the people’s patience as well has its limits. The people have been more than patient so far with Najib”.

The people in fact deserve an award for being more than patient with Najib since 2009 when he became Prime Minister, argued the analyst. “They have put up with all sorts of failings on the part of the government.”

Shahbudin agreed that those who are stressed by Najib’s presence in Putrajaya and can’t wait to see him go, but at the same time remained patient, could probably wait until GE14 in 2018 to bring about changes in government. “It’s at GE14 that such people can finally lose their patience and vote against the Najib Government.”

The analyst, in recalling that over 52 per cent of the voters rejected the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in 2013, says he estimates that perhaps between 60 and 65 per cent of the voters would go against the coalition in 2018.