(June 1): A former Umno minister told Datuk Seri Najib Razak to challenge his ministers to attack former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, following Dr Mahathir’s incessant criticism against debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin said the prime minister would not know who was sincerely with him just by challenging them to quit if they disagreed with the rehabilitation of the state investment vehicle.

"Instead, he should challenge them to come forward to attack Tun Dr Mahathir in TV3 and newspapers, just like BN Backbenchers Club president Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad and Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives president Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman," he wrote on his blog today.

Utusan Malaysia reported today that Najib issued an ultimatum to his Cabinet last Friday, telling ministers to resign if they did not support him over the rehabilitation of 1MDB which has to date chalked up RM42 billion in debts.

The Umno mouthpiece, quoting a source, said none of the ministers had declared he or she would not support the prime minister on 1MDB.

Najib was said to have issued the ultimatum soon after Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah finished laying out to the ministers the roadmap for 1MDB's restructuring.

"The prime minister told members of his Cabinet who were not with him on the 1MDB issue to resign, but not one person did so," the source told the Malay daily.

Zainuddin said today that senior Umno leaders such as Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Datuk Seri Shafee Apdal should have come forward earlier in defence of Najib to avoid a serious crisis of confidence.

He said members should be aware that Shahrir's criticism against Dr Mahathir was not effective because unlike the statesman, he did not command the support of the young.

Moreover, Zainuddin added that Shahrir was known for his bad blood with Malaysia's longest serving prime minister.

"What is clear is that those who vocally attack Dr Mahathir in defence of Najib's leadership from 1MDB problems are those who have lost their authority and integrity, and have long been swayed away from the party and are no longer accepted by the public.

"If only rubbish are supporting Najib, then he will also drown in a heap of trash.

"Getting ministers to counter-attack Dr Mahathir is much more preferable than resigning, which will lead to a split in the party and the government.

"Do not allow Najib to be seen by the people as being alone in his fight to defend himself, despite his claim that he is not." – The Malaysian Insider