Troubled Najib safe for now, says Economist

The Economist said that Datuk Seri Najib Razak's future is safe at the moment despite being surrounded by various controversies. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 1, 2015.Despite his mounting troubles, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is "safe for the moment", although the economy could determine his political future, The Economist said.

This is due to the lack of support for his rivals from within Umno and from among voters, it said in a recent opinion piece titled "Knives out".

The newspaper also noted the similarities between the criticism against Najib, particularly from within Umno, to the eventual removal of his predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Replacing Najib at this juncture could also see Umno becoming even more hardened on racial and religious issues, it said.

The newspaper noted two recent developments that are adding to Najib's problems, in addition to ongoing criticism by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the drop in world oil prices.

These were the debt-ridden investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), of which Najib is chairman of the advisory board, and the Federal Court verdict and death sentence for two former security officials in the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaaribuu.

"The case is a magnet for conspiracist," The Economist said noting that while there has been no evidence to Najib's involvement in the murder, speculation about his role continued to abound.

With current situation is unlikely to see Najib fulfil reforms he pledged earlier, it said, noting that the prime minister had already reversed his promise to repeal the Sedition Act last November. – February 1, 2015.