Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak seem to be burrowing himself deeper and deeper into the political perception quagmire, as all his efforts to lift himself out seems only to worsen the situation.

Indeed, a political analyst posited that such is the stigma attached to the PM that he has become the proverbial millstone around Umno's neck.

"In terms of public perception the issue has become a burden to the party," said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan.