COMMENT The sudden removal of former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, without an explanation, is unlikely to go without a challenge, especially since Muhyiddin had not launched a major attack on Najib until a day before the announcement.

It is believed that Muhyiddin had already heard from the grapevine that he would be among those to be dropped from the cabinet before he hit out at Najib during the Cheras Umno meeting.

Muhyiddin, like Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, was formerly a minister during the premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He, too, has a lot of ground support compared to Najib or his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Muhyiddin’s grassroots support in the state of Johor is still very strong. He still command a lot of respect amongst fellow Umno members throughout the country, including the veterans.

Since he spoke up against the 1MDB debacle without accusing Najib of the mess, his popularity has also shot up from other non-Umno voters.

Within hours of his removal, Muhyiddin has become the most talked about topic on Twitter. According to social media research firm Politweet, ‘Muhyiddin’ attracted well over 50,000 tweets a day, compared to only 10,000 tweets prior to his sacking.

On Facebook, his swan song message hit well over 183,197 likes by this morning, attracting more than 12,600 comments. Never has an Umno minister’s popularity reached such heights.

Muhyiddin is right, that should Umno or the Barisan Nasional call a general election in the next six months, it would lose badly. The people’s perception of Umno has worsened with the sudden removal of attorney-general Gani Patail (without his knowledge) and both Muhyiddin and Shafie Apdal, both of whom were critical of the 1MDB.

Umno’s split within the next six months is inevitable unless both Najib and Zahid step down for a fresh Umno election.

However, the duo know that they are unlikely to survive party rebellion if they were to give in to party elections. Najib had earlier removed Umno’s democratic rights to vote for the top echelon of leaders by moving the next party election by 18 months.

Given that he was dropped unceremoniously, Muhyiddin is unlikely to throw in the towel without giving the Najib-Zahid camp a run for their money. With the support from Dr Mahathir’s camp, it is likely that Muhyiddin, and others from Umno such as Mukhriz Mahathir and Shafie, along with former minister Zainuddin Maidin and former New Straits Times chief Kadir Jasin, will launch a more scathing attack on the Najib-Zahid duo.

Both Najib and Zahid are a tainted pair, as far as the record shows. They have both got away with various allegations hurled against them. Najib with alleged involvement in the death of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion into his private accounts; Zahid with his support letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to clear the name of gambling kingpin Paul Phua.

Both the cabinet and Umno have been backing the two, making them “responsible collectively” as stated by veteran Umno leader Rafidah Aziz. Even ministers who were appointed to the cabinet posts, who were supposed to speak up, failed to make their voices heard; they will be equally responsible for remaining in Najib’s administration.

The split within Umno is seen as necessary for the same reasons that PAS has split between the erdogans and the ulama. The political climate in Malaysia has changed, making it possible for a regrouping of the moderates and others under one umbrella, to outwit the present government in the coming election.

Amidst economic downturn and rising costs of living, Malaysians have only one option - either they stand up as one nation and remove the scoundrels from their midst or they will be swamped by the forces of globalisation.

The split within Umno will be crucial to the coming together of the good and the moderates in order to stop the rot. The battle lines have been drawn.

Muhyiddin may not join force with the opposition, but nothing rules it out as the best option for the moment. The earlier the forces can come as one, the faster Malaysia can return to the right path.

Invitation has already been extended by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to Dr Mahathir to unite with the new coalition to remove Najib and his current administration from Putrajaya. By the next parliamentary session, a vote of no confidence is eminent.  

Iron fist

It is likely that, in order to remain in power, Zahid, as Home Minister and now Deputy Prime Minister, will use the iron fist on the opposition, but he will not dare to touch Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin.

Both Najib and Zahid have disgraced the party’s No 2, but they are unlikely to touch the nonagenarian. The moment they touch Dr Mahathir, all hell will break loose.

In turn, Najib may use Zahid to start clamping down on the voices of dissent from the opposition. When this happens, it will be another Operation Lallang, reminiscences of Dr Mahathir’s actions in 1987.

However, unlike in 1987, the resistance will only grow stronger. In 1987, Umno did not have to face the civil society, but now, there is Bersih as well as the Hindraf movement.

The years of unvented anger by the people against Dr Mahathir may once again see it being unleashed against the duo.

The moment the iron fist is used by Putrajaya, which is highly likely with someone like Zahid, there will be huge repercussions on Najib and Zahid’s positions.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.

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