There are various ways to democratically remove a sitting chief executive. One way that has yet to be attempted in Malaysia, against prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, is to call a national referendum, a political analyst said yesterday.

Prof Ahmad Atory Hussain told Malaysiakini that this is unlike experiences in other Westminster-type democracies, for example in England and Australia.

"In such a situation, the speaker of the House would be in charge of carrying out the referendum.

"But of course, the prime minister will still have to give his approval. There have been prime ministers who acted like gentlemen (and allowed a referendum to be called against them). Here, we don't see that," Atory mused.

In the event that a referendum is called in Malaysia, Atory said, the question can be as simple as "Najib for prime minister. Yes or no?"

He added: "There are several ways to do it (to remove a prime minister) and we have seen a few failed attempts in Malaysia, including trying to table a motion of no confidence in Parliament."

Atory ( photo ) said this when asked for his view on the Save Malaysia movement to collect one million signatures on a petition calling upon Najib to vacate his post as prime minister.

At the same time, Atory said, the best way for Najib's critics to remove him would be to wait until the 14th general election.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his speech to the People's Congress on Sunday said the Save Malaysia movement would be touring the country and collect one million signatures to support its declaration by year's end.

Mahathir had urged the people to have no fear of possible repercussions and quipped that he would even personally drive a lorry to the palace, to present all the signed documents.

Despite saying it wasn't up to the Save Malaysia group to decide who should be the next prime minister , Mahathir also said it does not mean that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would take over the post if Najib was ousted.

In response, Zahid accused Mahathir of attempting to play God in deciding who should helm the country.

'Najib can appoint his cousin as PM'

However, Atory concurred with Mahathir's view that Zahid was not guaranteed the prime minister's post.

"Not necessarily that the post will go to Umno's No 2. It can even be an Umno vice-president. In my personal view, the best candidate is (Defence Minister) Hishammuddin Hussein," he said.

"Najib can give an ultimatum to the Umno supreme council, 'I can resign on condition that Hishammuddin ( photo ) is appointed as prime minister'," Atory argued.

Hishammuddin is one of three Umno elected vice-presidents and Najib's cousin.

He was elected to the post at the last Umno elections, together with Zahid and Semporna MP Shafie Apdal, who has joined the ranks of Najib's critics.

"In this case, (former deputy president) Muhyiddin (Yassin) is unlikely to be appointed," Atory noted.

Muhyiddin was dropped from cabinet, together with Shafie in July last year, and has also been suspended from his deputy president's post in Umno.

Zahid is now carrying out the duties of the Umno deputy president, until the next Umno elections which have been delayed until after GE14.