ANALYSIS The US Department of Justice's (DOJ) crackdown on corruption involving 1MDB has reinvigorated calls for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to step down.

After all, it is not difficult to add two and two together and assume, rightfully or not, that Najib is the "Malaysian Official 1" whom the DOJ claimed got US$731 million in siphoned 1MDB monies.

Umno can't be so dense to overlook such solid evidence and continue supporting Najib as party president, right?

Surely they would cut their losses now, and replace Najib with his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi or something?

Well, no.

Umno's initial reaction to the DOJ civil suits has been to deflect any blame from Najib, maintaining that he was not named by the US authorities, which is technically correct.

And it's unlikely that the people Najib had so carefully hand-picked to ensure that he stays in power will turn on him now.

"Most of the people who opposed him in the party have already been dismissed or sidelined.

"Those who remain are either very loyal or pragmatic therefore likely to stand by him despite the perceptions that might be cast by the lawsuits," Merdeka Center executive director Ibrahim Suffian told Malaysiakini.

Similarly, Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat (photo) said Najib's warlords will stick with him, although his nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad will try to poach new recruits.

"Umno warlords may wait and see, hoping for a good deal to reward their defection," Wong said.

Public anger can pressure Umno warlords

Ideas chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan concurred in a statement that there are no signs that Umno will turn against Najib.

So what will it take for Umno to dump Najib?

For Wong, it will take an actual charge against the premier and not just allusions to possible involvement.

"Public anger can pressure Umno warlords to act faster but I think the public has grown immune to the development of 1MDB.

"Perhaps only if Najib is implicated directly, it can be the last straw."

He added that if any Umno leaders abandon Najib, the effect may snowball.

Ibrahim also feels that a drop in public support or a public uprising may cause Umno to betray Najib if its hold on power is threatened.

However, he feels that this isn't going to happen anytime soon as the opposition isn't offering a viable alternative.

"The opposition is fragmented and leaderless. It's unlikely that they'll do anything that will lead to a revolt from within Umno," the independent pollster said.

Ultimately, Wan Saiful said Najib will be safe as long as Umno's political survival is ensured.

"Najib's position as prime minister is secure as long as his position as president of Umno is safe.

"Umno members generally decide based on local considerations, and just like any other political party they will prioritise their own political survival. That is the bottom line," he said in a statement today.

Najib has been under pressure to quit office for over a year.

However, he has stood his ground, and dismissed the accusations against him as a plot to topple him.

Two by-elections last month, billed by the opposition as a referendum on his leadership, resulted in massive wins for BN, further cementing Najib's hold on power.