INTERVIEW Parliament will soon be voting on Budget 2016, an event which could decide the fate of embattled Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang is not so confident that the budget will be shot down, and he is not sure the vote of no confidence tabled by the opposition will succeed.

"I'm not optimistic about it. I don't think it is likely [...] but we should leave the possibility (of it succeeding) open," he told Malaysiakini at his office at the DAP headquarters on Friday.

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua has even said chances of defeating the budget are next to zero , as ruling party MPs are unlikely to vote with the opposition bloc.

Lim himself will not be able to either vote against the budget or in a no confidence motion, as he has been suspended from parliament for six months for allegedly insulting House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

On the BN factor, Muhyiddin had said there is a possibility of them voting against Najib if Umno suspends leaders like its deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin.

"But apart from those who will have action taken against them, whether there will be BN and Umno MPs who are brave enough to take a stand remains to be seen, because it means they too will have to face the chopping block immediately," Lim responded.

But even if Najib survives these two challenges, the DAP supremo said it does not mean the prime minister is safe, as there are other avenues to topple him, including from within Umno.

What is important, he said, is that pressure on Najib is maintained.

Najib staying 'good for Harapan'

"From Pakatan Harapan's point of view, we would like to see Najib lead the 14th general elections; it would be an easier target (for us).

"But from the point of national interest, the country can't continue to suffer from this indecisive situation," he added.

This is because the scandals surrounding Najib has triggered a confidence crisis not only in the prime minister, but also in all Malaysians, he said.

"We seem to have lost that confidence as a people that we can be among the best.

"We are bogged down, wondering whether we are becoming a rogue state, or worse - a failed state - because of rampant corruption and abuses of power.

"I think we should find back our moorings and bearings," he said.

Malaysia is currently suffering from a sinking currency, the worst since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

While other currencies are also falling due to international factors, political and financial observers say that Malaysia is suffering even harder due to the scandals surrounding Najib and his debt-ridden brainchild, 1MDB.

Interview conducted by Zikri Kamarulzaman, Norman Goh and Prasadh Michael