Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will not be removed from office through a vote of no-confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

"This is very difficult as almost all the Umno members seem beholden to him. And the opposition does not have enough members to pass the motion," he wrote on his blog today.

Mahathir's comments comes amidst Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's claims that an Umno MP was preparing statutory declarations among BN and opposition MPs to declare that they have the majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Although Ahmad Zahid claimed that the person had repented, talks about the plot continued today following the naming of 20 BN MPs said to be involved.

Thus far, four MPs - Hasbulah Osman (Gerik), Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong), Rahim Bakri (Kudat) and Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) - have denied involvement.

Mahathir's blog post also outlined Najib's recent actions that frustrated attempts by the authorities and the Public Accounts Committee to investigate 1MDB.

Taking out detractors

This has resulted for calls for the prime minister's ouster.

"Public opinion therefore remains strong in wanting Najib to resign as PM," wrote Mahathir.

According to BN strategic communications director Abdul Rahman Dahlan, there was a "plot to criminalise the prime minister" and thus some people had to be "taken out".

"Given that scenario what would you do? You would take drastic action wouldn't you?

"Okay, take these people out first, so that things will get back to normalcy and see what will happen next.

"If you could appreciate that scenario then you would understand the flurry of action taken by the prime minister," he said in an interview published on Star Online yesterday.

In late July, Najib reshuffled his cabinet, dropping detractors and picking up four Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members who were investigating 1MDB.

Najib also removed Abdul Gani Patail as attorney-general.

Related reports

MP: Toppling PM through confidence vote not illegal

Arul can't slink away from US$1b Cayman poser

MB: S'gor has RM1b more than 'someone's donation'

Bar snubs funding panel, wants RM2.6b probed first

Gov’t to get social media to put a stop to ‘false news’

Puad gets royal roasting over PM-sultan relations

Did Rahman Dahlan spill beans on Najib?

Umno needs to rewrite ‘political donation’ script

Round 2: Umno moves to sack Muhyiddin as No 2?

Muhyiddin not involved in 'topple' plot

Plot to ‘topple gov’t’ is a red herring