The rally, announced by PAS last month, was intended to coincide with the jailed former prime minister’s appeal for leave to commence judicial review proceedings over a royal decree placing him under house arrest.
The Islamic party’s intentions were immediately questioned by various quarters, although Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi claimed it simply reflected Najib’s enduring popularity.
Following the announcement, several Bersatu leaders said they would attend the event, but Mahathir Rais, secretary of the party’s federal territories chapter, dismissed the idea, saying it reeked of political opportunism.
When the outcome of the appeal favoured Najib, PAS and Bersatu leaders were quick to attack the government.
Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of committing treason for allegedly concealing the addendum, and PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari called for him to resign.
Meanwhile, Bersatu leader Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal expressed support for Najib but insisted that the coalition’s stance on 1MDB remains unchanged.
Mahathir, also the Federal Territories PN secretary, sought to explain the apparent inconsistency by claiming that the absence of the coalition’s chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and his deputy Abdul Hadi Awang from the rally was proof of its opposition to corruption. He said the presence of other Bersatu leaders at the rally was their individual right.
Muhyiddin, who served in Najib’s administration as deputy prime minister from April 2009 until July 2015, was dismissed for criticising the then prime minister’s handling of the 1MDB scandal. He co-founded Bersatu after being expelled from Umno the following year.
PN rudderless
Political analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, however, attributed PN’s inability to project a consistent stand to a lack of leadership.
He said Muhyiddin was struggling with problems within Bersatu, as proven by contradicting viewpoints expressed by the party’s leaders on Najib’s house arrest issue.
“He’s in a conundrum right now because some Bersatu members are supporting Naijb by being present at the rally. Their ally, PAS, has also been very vocal and has largely been the pull factor in PN in supporting Najib,” he told FMT.
Nonetheless, Azmi said Muhyiddin may have no choice but to remain silent for fear of ruffling feathers within PN whether by his support for Najib or otherwise.
“(This is so) particularly with PAS and those among his Bersatu leadership who agree with PAS about the rally,” he said.
Bersatu’s Hamzah, vice-president Ronald Kiandee and Wan Fayhsal all attended the Jan 6 rally.
Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani of strategic advisory firm ADA Southeast Asia said Muhyiddin is shackled by his long history with Najib in Umno.
“However, anything is possible in Malaysian politics; if mending his relationship with Najib leads him to return to power, then he will do so.”
Asrul said it was apparent that PN did not have a clear strategy on Najib, and that its primary goal was to destabilise the government so it can form the next one without going through an election.
Grassroots sincere
Azmi accused all political parties—including Umno—of weighing in on the addendum issue purely for political mileage, but acknowledged that certain segments, especially the grassroots, were sincere.
This was because Najib still holds plenty of sway both within Umno and among the Malay electorate, he said.
Azmi said Umno leaders are keen to show its grassroots that they are seeking justice for the party’s former president.
“PAS and Bersatu meanwhile are trying to display that they’re much more concerned for Najib (as compared to Umno). For them, it’s about gaining political mileage among Umno supporters.
“No doubt there are sincere groups fighting for Najib, but most are fighting to get some political mileage,” he said.
Asrul expects that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be feeling “somewhat uneasy” over the prospect of Najib being released from prison early, saying it could threaten his own position.
He also said the rally, which drew 3,000 attendees despite Umno’s eleventh hour pullout, would be of concern to both Anwar and Zahid.
“Najib’s shadow still looms large over them after two years in office. Meanwhile, PN is attempting to chip away at the cracks within the federal coalition using Najib as a wedge.
“It remains to be seen if PN and Barisan Nasional will look to form a federal government, but Zahid will feel the pressure if Najib is allowed to serve his prison term under house arrest,” said Asrul. - FMT
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