There are various ways to democratically remove a sitting chief executive. One way that has yet to be attempted in Malaysia, against prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, is to call a national referendum, a political analyst said yesterday.

Prof Ahmad Atory Hussain told Malaysiakini that this is unlike experiences in other Westminster-type democracies, for example in England and Australia.

"In such a situation, the speaker of the House would be in charge of carrying out the referendum," Atory said.