Embattled Najib set to defy calls for his ouster amid corruption allegations

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Embattled Malaysian leader Najib set to defy calls for his ouster amid corruption allegations

Prime minister retains firm grip on power, with experts expecting him to last until general elections in 2018

PUBLISHED : Saturday, 28 November, 2015, 9:40am
UPDATED : Saturday, 28 November, 2015, 10:09am

Amy Chew in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak (left) with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Photo: SCMP Pictures

When the Asean Summit ended in Kuala Lumpur last weekend, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's supporters were jubilant - the event was deemed a success, with the attendance of world leaders including US President Barack Obama.

"The leaders of the United States, China and even Russia came. What can Dr Mahathir do now," said Zainal Epi, a supporter of Najib, referring to Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, now a vehement Najib critic.

For the past six months, Najib has been battling corruption allegations, strident calls for him to step down from Mahathir, as well as a slowing economy, which many thought would deal him a knock-out blow.

But Najib, 62, has defied all predictions of his ousting and his grip on power seems to be growing stronger. Analysts and even some opposition figures expect him to last until the next general elections in 2018.

"His position is a lot safer than it did six to 12 months ago. He is looking unassailable," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Centre.

Najib has nimbly navigated himself through the fallout of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the country's state investment firm, 1 Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB), whose advisory board he chairs. 1MDB amassed US$9.6 billion of debt in just five years.

The two dignitaries witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in Kuala Lumpur on November 23. Photo: Xinhua

1MDB is presently under investigation for corruption and mismanagement domestically as well as by various authorities in several countries, including the US, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Britain.

Najib has denied all wrongdoing.

"Najib is in a position of strength because everyone else contesting his leadership is in a position of weakness ... The opposition is, for lack of a better word, incoherent in its political posture," said Abdillah Noh, deputy dean at the Tun Abdul Razak School of Government at the Universiti Tun Abdul Razak.

The presence of Obama, Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Kuala Lumpur attested to Najib's geopolitical skills, selling Malaysia as an important country with a moderate brand of Islam to counter Islamic extremism.

Najib's trump card is Obama's centrepiece trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership - he knows Washington is keen to have Malaysia on board the 12-nation pact to increase US influence in East Asia and help counter the rise of China.

The Malaysian government has said it will sign the TPP after it has been endorsed by parliament.

Domestically, Najib has removed dissenters from his cabinet and the civil service.

"[Najib] has the attorney-general, the police and his party chiefs in his hands. All these people can protect him from efforts to topple him," said Kadir Jasin, a close associate of Mahathir. "He will last until 2018. But Dr Mahathir will not give up."

While Najib has lost some support within the ruling Umno party of which he is chairman, he has the backing of the majority of Umno's 191 division chiefs - the key to his survival.

According to Jamal Yusof, Umno division chief of Sungai Besar, a large majority of chiefs support Najib, at least according to a poll conducted via a Telegram chat group last month.

"Out of 174 division chiefs , 157 expressed support for Najib. I am sure more than 157 support Najib as our Telegram chat group did not reach all 191 division chiefs," Jamal said.

If those numbers reflect reality, then Najib looks set to stay.