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Najib Razak's political respite will only last so long Najib Razak at risk of isolation amid Malaysian corruption scandal
(35 minutes later)
Malaysia is a country in turmoil. The country’s prime minister, Najib Razak, is alleged to have performed daylight robbery, salting $700m (£456m) into his personal bank account. Malaysia is a country in turmoil. The country’s prime minister, Najib Razak, is alleged to have performed daylight robbery with the depositing of $700m (£456m) into his personal bank account.
The FBI and police in Hong Kong have launched probes as the worst crisis of Razak’s career unfolds. Swiss authorities have frozen millions of dollars in bank accounts linked to 1MBD, the state fund at the centre of the corruption allegations. Razak has denied taking any money and has launched a campaign to disarm his critics. The FBI and police in Hong Kong have launched investigations as the worst crisis of Najib’s career unfolds. Swiss authorities have frozen millions of dollars in bank accounts linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the state development fund at the centre of the corruption allegations.
And now the nation’s powerful sultans have broken both their silence and their non-political stance to call for a swift investigation into 1MBD.
The nation’s powerful sultans have broken both their silence and their non-political stance to call for a swift investigation into 1MBD. Cabinet ministers who’ve openly doubted him have been sacked; the media has been suppressed and outspoken politicians have been repeatedly chastised. Related: Detained Malaysian lawyer starts hunger strike amid PM finance scandal
When the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur was decked in August by thousands of protesters wearing yellow – the adopted colour of protest to Najib’s rule – Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister, banned the colour. The name of the movement which had organised the rally, BERSIH, was also banned. BERSIH means clean in Malay and the movement was formed in 2007 to champion freer and fairer elections. Najib has denied taking any money and has launched a campaign to disarm his critics. Cabinet ministers who have openly doubted him have been sacked, the media have been suppressed and outspoken politicians have been repeatedly chastised.
Amid this tumult, Razak himself appeared to be down for the count, but not out, and some now believe his opponents may regret a missed opportunity. His current respite is due to lukewarm opposition within his party, United Malay Nationalists Organisation (UMNO), which leads twelve coalition partners, and a fortuitous break-up of the main opposition group, Pakatan Rakyat. In August, when Kuala Lumpur was full of thousands of protesters wearing yellow – the adopted colour of protest against Najib’s rule – Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister, banned the colour. The name of the movement which organised the rally, Bersih, was also banned. Bersih means clean in Malay and the movement was formed in 2007 to champion freer and fairer elections.
The rest of the country however, has been consumed by little else. Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the economic bloc for southeast Asian countries. But it spent most of 2015 defending its administration and the Ringgit, Asia’s worst performing currency. Amid this tumult, Najib appeared to be down for the count, but not out, and some now believe his opponents may regret a missed opportunity. His current respite is due to lukewarm opposition within his party, United Malay Nationalists Organisation (UMNO), which leads 12 coalition partners, and a fortuitous breakup of the main opposition group, Pakatan Rakyat.
Razak’s mortal threat definitely lies inside the party, where Muhyiddin Yassin – whom he dismissed as his deputy prime minister – lies in wait. There is also his potential nemesis, ally-turned foe former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has led calls for Najib to step aside. The rest of the country, however, has been consumed by little else. Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the economic bloc for the region. But it spent most of 2015 defending its administration and the ringgit, Asia’s worst-performing currency.
Fearing them, Razak has avoided directed confrontation – he has met Yassin only once, and sent a legal notice to Mohamad’s ally former minister Ling Liong Sik instead of him for casting aspersions on him. Although Yassin continues expressing love for the party and the national coalition, opposition parties are looking at him and other naysayers to act as key partners against Razak. Najib’s mortal threat definitely lies inside the party, where Muhyiddin Yassin – whom he dismissed as his deputy prime minister – lies in wait. There is also his potential nemesis, ally-turned-foe and former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has led calls for Razak to step aside.
Dangers lurk for the prime minister. But he has a few cards to play. On Tuesday, Malaysia’s courts ruled the government could continue to use a sedition act dating back to the British empire – a law used to charge around 30 anti-Razak politicians and activists. Such a sledgehammer blow may unbalance Razak’s detractors, but it could backfire if it leads to further instability, possibly resulting in Razak cutting a solitary figure. Fearing them, Najib has avoided directed confrontation – he has met Muhyiddin only once, and sent a legal notice to Mahathir’s ally, the former minister Ling Liong Sik, instead of him for casting aspersions on him. Although Muhyiddin continues to express love for the party and the national coalition, opposition parties are looking at him and other naysayers to act as key partners against Najib.
Dangers lurk for the prime minister. But he has a few cards to play. On Tuesday, Malaysia’s courts ruled the government could http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/06/malaysia-court-dismisses-challenge-to-unconstitutional-sedition-lawcontinue to use a sedition act dating back to the British empire – a law used to charge around 30 anti-Najib politicians and activists.
Such a sledgehammer blow may unbalance Najib’s detractors, but it could backfire if it leads to further instability, possibly resulting in Najib cutting a solitary figure.
Praba Ganesan is chief executive at KUASA, a Malaysian NGO using volunteerism to increase political engagement in the country.Praba Ganesan is chief executive at KUASA, a Malaysian NGO using volunteerism to increase political engagement in the country.