Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Despite cementing his position as Umno president at the party's general assembly last week, the internal rebellion brewing against Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not die out any time soon, political analysts say.

Najib's opponents within the party will continue to speak out, even under threat of being suspended, as they have nothing to lose, the analysts said, pointing to the five branch leaders in Selangor who publicly urged Najib to step down on Wednesday night.

Political analyst Dr Bridget Welsh said the revolt continued because of the polarisation within Umno over Najib's leadership, caused by the party president's attempts to marginalise and clamp down on dissent.

"Those who have opposed him have nothing to lose. They cannot be moved from their position and believe that they are saving Umno and the country from Najib's leadership.

"They are not likely to change their views, although their tactics may change. They are being pushed out of Umno in the persistent leadership contestation," said Welsh, a professor in Political Science at Ipek University, Turkey.

Dr Lim Teck Ghee, the executive director of Centre for Policy Initiatives, said while Najib's opponents appeared to be a minority group, similar views were likely held within branches or divisions that were outwardly in support of Najib.

He said they had not emerged publicly due to the fear of being sidelined or marginalised in the patronage system practised by the party.

"But some leaders at the grassroots – partly because they are further away from the gravy train – are made of sterner stuff and have higher ethical standards.

"Expect this resistance to continue even though they may receive little or no coverage in the official and Malay media," he told The Malaysian Insider.

Lim said while the opposition towards Najib was no threat to him at this point, it could turn into a real and sustainable challenge, depending on how his greatest critics, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, responded to "setbacks" at the general assembly.

The success of the rebellion also hinged on whether further damaging evidence against Najib in the 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and RM2.6 billion donation emerged, said Lim.

He said the resistance against Najib had adversely affected foreign and investor confidence, and warned that the ripple effects on race relations from demonising DAP, a Chinese-majority opposition party, could spiral out of control.

"When that happens, the proposed National Security Council Bill will not be enough to contain the turmoil or will be largely irrelevant in minimising the damage."

Welsh meanwhile said the damage to the economy was caused not by the resistance against Najib, but the prime minister's insistence on clinging onto power.

"The challenge to the economy and political stability are not about those calling for leadership change.

"The damage to the economy is being done by Najib's unwillingness to step down, use of institutions to stay in office without appreciating the harm inflicted and the negative brand he gives the country in a series of scandals that are not going away."

 

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