Najib stronger despite scandals, says The Economist
The Opposition meanwhile has been a disappointment, The Economist said, having failed to capitalise on Umno’s shortfalls and consumed with internal bickering,
(FMT) – Prime Minister Najib Razak appears to have strengthened his grip on power despite the donation scandal plaguing his administration, The Economist has said.
A report titled “The art of survival” in the latest edition of the weekly UK-based publication, said Najib had achieved this by “purging critics within the Cabinet and police.”
“On February 29, the grand old man of Malaysian politics, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, stormed out of the party (Umno) in disgust,” the publication said, noting that the former prime minister was once a fan of Najib’s but “No more.”
The Economist also noted that political and civil society dissenters were feeling “nervous” after 15 individuals were charged for sedition last year alone despite Najib once promising to repeal the Sedition Act.
It also cited the blocking of news portal The Malaysian Insider, the introduction of the contentious National Security Council Bill, as well as amendments to the Official Secrets Act (OSA) as means for Najib to strengthen his position and punish dissenters.
“It has all appalled many urban and professional Malaysians. It has also made stars of the government’s most vocal critics,” it said, making a mention of Tony Pua of DAP.
The report quoted Merdeka Centre’s Ben Suffian as saying Malaysia was now “essentially two countries” – with outrage widespread among the urban population of various ethnicities, while rural folk were still apathetic and trusted Umno to defend “racial laws designed to give the ethnic-Malay majority a leg-up.”
“Mr Najib has been playing the system more ruthlessly than many imagined,” the article said, noting that loyalty to the party was prized over ability while recent sackings of critics within the party had sent a clear message as to “who is boss.”
The Opposition meanwhile has been a disappointment, The Economist said, having failed to capitalise on Umno’s shortfalls and consumed with internal bickering, forcing Malaysians unhappy with Najib’s administration to rally under the banner of an unaligned group (Bersih) that has campaigned for clean politics and electoral reform.
Despite all these, Najib’s hold “may be shakier than it appears”, the article pointed out, citing the public’s worries about the economy, including the predicament faced by national petroleum giant Petronas, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the fall of the ringgit.
It was also predicted that some of Najib’s rivals, whom he had vanquished, may yet bounce back.
“Some Umno bigwigs are backing the prime minister through gritted teeth.
“A time may come when they say that enough is enough, especially when the party starts considering its strategy for the next election,” the report quoted political analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan as saying.
Najib could risk calling a snap election before then, said the article – both to pre-empt conspiracy and to catch out the Opposition before it had time to get its act together.
“For Malaysia’s rattled liberals, all this seems theoretical. Last year they watched plans evaporate for a parliamentary vote of no-confidence. They are doubtful that the current corruption scandal will ever unseat Mr Najib.”
