Just more noise from Umno rebel group
Where are the strategies to bring about Najib’s defeat?
Shahril Ahmad, Free Malaysia Today
It’s doubtful that the latest warning from the Coalition of Branch Chiefs Malaysia (GKCM) has left Prime Minister Najib Razak shaking in his boots. He’s heard such talk before and seen no action that could be considered a serious threat to his position.
GKCM’s new warning came as a response to Umno’s decision to sack former DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah MB Mukhriz Mahathir from the party. GKCM Vice-President Rushdan Mohamad said more anti-Najib elements would emerge after Hari Raya. According to him, it is only out of respect for Ramadan that the Malays were not showing much anger over the dismissal of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz and the suspension of Shafie Abdal.
To give strength to the warning, Rushdan spoke of former PM Mahathir Mohamad’s supposedly “very strong” influence with the Umno grassroots. He chose to ignore the sign shown in the results of the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections that the grassroots were probably put off by Mahathir’s participation in the opposition campaign and his rapprochement with his longtime rival, Lim Kit Siang.
In fact, Umno’s strong showing in the by-elections may have earned Najib respect even among his detractors, including those in Umno. Najib blindsided the opposition by ensuring the tabling in Parliament of PAS President Hadi Awang’s hudud bill just before the by-elections. It was a classic Mahathirian move executed to perfection and it more than likely firmed up his standing in Umno as well as Barisan Nasional.
Simply put, warnings remain just words if there’s no action to back them up. It’s clear from the language used by Rushdan that the idea of more defections to the anti-Najib camp is mere speculation as opposed to a probability.
The continued dominance of the PM and the entrenchment of his power will be enough to convince most Umno members to stay with him. Such is the nature of politics in this country.
Ultimately, Rushdan’s pronouncement is just so much noise to add to the daily din. Pundits are already predicting that GE14 will be held next year, and Umno is obviously gearing itself up for it. The sacking of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz and the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle are clear signs that Najib is fortifying his position.
Meanwhile, Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan are caught up over the question of whether PAS’s coalition with Ikatan presents them with another challenge. There’s also the question of whether Mahathir helps or hurts the opposition cause. But here’s the big question: Is there any strategy at all to defeat Najib?
