Embattled Malaysia PM vows ‘no surrender’
Najib refuses to quit over funding scandal
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday defiantly rejected calls to step down over a political funding scandal as the ruling party doubled down on its support for him in the face of an uncertain electoral outlook.
Mr Najib vowed not to give in to “traitors” seeking his removal, as he addressed the annual assembly of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the most closely watched in years for signs of any revolt against the party leader.
“Even though there are traitors, and no matter how many times we are pushed to the ground, there shall be no retreat, no surrender,” Mr Najib told the assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
“No retreat! No surrender,” he repeated forcefully, in a speech that drew a standing ovation from the more than 2,000 delegates clad in the party’s red colours.
Switching briefly into English during the 90-minute Malay-language speech that drew frequent shouts of support and bursts of applause from his audience, the British-educated Mr Najib declared: “I am a gentleman.”
Mr Najib’s troubles have raised new questions over whether Umno — which has ruled since independence 58 years ago but faces steadily declining support — can survive the next elections, due by 2018, with his brand now tainted.
It was revealed in July that Mr Najib received nearly US$700 million (25.2 billion baht) in what the government has called “political donations.” Mr Najib has resisted calls to explain the money’s source and purpose.
The discovery came just as he was battling separate allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars were missing from deals involving a state firm he launched, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Mr Najib, 62, made only passing reference to the affair in his speech, saying he had briefed party leaders on the matter.
Malaysia’s anti-graft agency said it interviewed Mr Najib last week over the allegations, but it also gave no details. Both Mr Najib and 1MDB vehemently deny any wrongdoing, but vocal critics including former strongman premier Mahathir Mohamad say Mr Najib has abused his office t o cow whistle-blowers and hobble investigations and should face a criminal probe.
On Monday, party VicePresident Muhyiddin Yassin, whom Mr Najib sacked as deputy prime minister in July for demanding answers about the scandal, urged the premier to leave office until investigations are completed.
But the anti-Najib grumbling has failed to gain traction in a party whose detractors say is built on patronage and money politics.
“In light of the challenges, no matter how big, I will not at all surrender,” Mr Najib told the assembly, vowing to “continue to lead Umno towards victory”.
As party president, Mr Najib commands solid support from Umno power-brokers nationwide and party leaders have rallied behind him in speeches this week.
“We are solidly with the prime minister. We will continue to remain steadfast with him,” said Jehan Ongkomon, an Umno delegate from a rural constituency, echoing many delegates.
He said the rural, mostly ethnic Malay voters who are Umno’s bedrock care more about the party’s support for their interests than about the accusations Mr Najib faces.
The Muslim, ethnic Malay party has dominated multi-cultural Malaysia through coalition governments for decades, enshrining policies that favour the Malay majority.
But the large ethnic Chinese minority and a new generation of Malay and urban voters have increasingly flocked to the opposition in disgust over racial politics and persistent accusations of corruption and democratic abuses.
The opposition won a majority of votes cast in 2013 parliamentary elections, but Mr Najib’s coalition retained power thanks to seat allocations that favour its rural strongholds.
Since the election, scores of opposition politicians and other government critics have been targeted with accusations of sedition and other charges.
Analysts say Mr Najib faces a major challenge in the next polls, but add the ruling coalition retains significant advantages through its control of government machinery and funding.