COMMENT It is an ostentatious representation of one man's     insatiable appetite for grandness where opulent edifices compete with one another for attention, conceived in a mind that values mega-structures more than fundamental liberties.

 

But despite the tonnes of concrete and expensive marbles, Putrajaya now appears like a house of cards for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

 

This is because its chief architect - who also excels in the art of demolition - is adamant that Najib and his spouse vacate the premises, slapping the couple with eviction notices on almost a daily basis.

 

But Najib has refused to pack his bags and remained steadfast in bravely weathering the tempest called Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

 

More than 48 hours have passed since the prime minister declared that "we will not surrender" after drawing inspiration from his seafaring forefathers.

 

Najib indicated that he has the support of the entire cabinet and members of his administration.

None of them have rebutted this and their silence could be interpreted as tacit endorsement of his leadership which is struggling to remain afloat in a sea of allegations.

 

So perhaps Mahathir is wrong to just focus on one individual. He should spread his wrath to engulf all those who stand behind the man - whom a former minister described as the Malaysian version of King Louis XIV - he wishes to remove from the throne.

                                               

As for the Bugis seafarers, some were indeed fearsome pirates who instilled dread in the hearts of captains of antiquated merchant ships.

 

But no captain of a pirate ship, albeit of whatever descent, can terrorise the seas alone. He needs a crew to accomplish the feat and this lot is just as guilty as the one in command.

 

Some might disagree with the wanton looting and bloodletting, but kept their lips sealed for fear of retribution or being deprived of a share of the rewards.

 

But is it not often said that evil triumphs when the good choose not to act? And this is especially so when the person holds an office of trust that makes him or her duty-bound to speak out against wrongdoings.

 

And as pointed out by a seasoned newsman, the prime minister relied on a misplaced example to defend himself - a Bugis vessel cannot be compared to a nation because if the latter sinks, the casualties would be in the tens of millions.

 

If the audit on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) reveals that there was financial misconduct and calls are made for Najib's head to roll, the guillotine should also come down on his cabinet and administration as well. All of them must be held accountable for protecting the prime minister's delinquent brainchild.

 

And what about those who claim to have been satisfied with Najib's explanation? Should their heads be allowed to rest on their shoulders?

Will Umno Youth invite Dr M?

 

But Mahathir would not want to tread this path of thorns for it would risk not having a single head left in Umno and BN.

It would be a climax that is different from what the director had intended, which is for the credits to roll when one head is sacrificed to save other heads in Umno from being decapitated.

 

The unwritten script in this story is that Mahathir is not interested in rescuing the nation from the stranglehold of corruption and abuse of power, he wants to free Umno from the jaws of possible electoral defeat and spare scores of his colleagues the frightful prospect of landing in prison. Perhaps he himself is concerned of a possible close encounter with nemesis Anwar Ibrahim in Sungai Buloh.

 

Mahathir has also called on Umno members to view the current conundrum from the perspective of a court hearing. He noted that in a court hearing, both the plaintiff’s and defendant's testimonies are heard before a decision is made.

 

But in the high-profile case of Mahathir vs Najib, it is the defendant who has met with members of the jury - who could seal his fate - behind closed doors to argue his innocence, while the plaintiff has not addressed them to explain his reasons for wanting the defendant to be dispatched to the political gallows.

 

The plaintiff is instead forced to air his grouses through the Internet, and of late, roadshows.

 

However, Mahathir also said that he would only speak to the Umno wings if invited to do so and thus placed them on the horns of dilemma.

 

Now, it remains to be seen if the wings would have the courage to request for a closed-door session with the former premier, which is bound to infuriate their current boss. If an invitation is extended, would Umno Youth hoist Mahathir on its shoulders afterwards?

 

And if Najib does indeed behave like Louis XIV, then Malaysia is now in the throes of absolutism with a ruler who believes that it is his divine right to lord over the people while his cabinet functions as in the words of the French king:

 

"You [secretaries and ministers of state] will assist me with your counsels when I ask for them. I request and order you to seal no orders except by my command, I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favour no one."

 

Then again, Louis XIV's reign also aptly described the Mahathir administration, which has its fair share of riddles about unaccounted billions as well.

 

RK Anand is a member of the Malaysiakini team.