ANALYSIS Since Dr Mahathir Mohamad embarked on his tirade against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, a string of Umno leaders have come out to pledge support for their embattled president.

 

Even those who disagree with him on issues such as the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) have remained silent or put their views across in a subtle manner.

 

So it came as a surprise when Umno lawmaker Nur Jazlan ( photo ) proposed that Najib seek a new mandate in snap nationwide polls.

 

He said this would allow the prime minister to “cleanse” himself, his family and administration of the very negative perception cast on them.

 

Other Umno leaders such as Cheras division head Syed Ali Alhabshee quickly leapt to Najib's defence, dismissing the controversies as the work of the ‘opposition’, which is ironically lead by former strongman Mahathir. They called on party leaders to defend their boss instead of calling for an early general election.

 

Sharing his thoughts on this, political analyst Wong Chin Huat said a snap election would allow Najib to purge his opponents from Umno, particularly those aligned to Mahathir, from positions of power.

 

This, he added, would include the former premier’s son Mukhriz, who is the menteri besar of Kedah.

 

Wong said the purge, if successful, would strengthen Najib ahead of the Umno polls slated for next year, assuming that this is not put off in anticipation of the 14 th general election.

 

"Umno is basically a party of patronage. If all of Najib's men are in power, they will have all the resources and there is no way Mahathir can win over the party," he told Malaysiakini .

 

However, he warned that those dropped as election candidates might attempt to sabotage or contest as independents to split Umno’s votes, creating uncertainty as to whether Najib could secure a convincing victory.

 

Things are far from rosy for Pakatan Rakyat as well with the coalition now only existing in name with little coordination among the three component parties, particularly between PAS and partners PKR and DAP.

 

Referendum on GST

 

Najib could well take advantage of the disarray in Pakatan during a snap polls, if it wasn't for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which came into effect on April 1.

Less than a month since its implementation, the burden of the tax is already being felt with even Umno's own Sepanggar MP Jumat Idris complaining about the hefty amount he had to pay for his son’s medical treatment.

 

"The only benefit you can reap by calling for a snap election now is the infighting of Pakatan.

 

"On the other hand, you have the GST which may backfire on BN, so it will be a big gamble by calling a snap poll now,” said Wong ( photo ).

 

“I don't think Najib is a gambler who will take the chance," added the fellow at the Penang Institute.

 

He said there is a possibility that Pakatan might come together for the sake of the snap polls and make it into a referendum on GST which would turn the tables on Najib.

 

If Najib were to call a snap poll, it has to at least be after the PAS party elections in June where there is a likelihood that Pakatan might formally break up and after the anger over the GST subsides.

 

"Then in that kind of situation, Najib may still survive and emerge victorious in a three- corner fight with Mahathir's men who are sidelined," said Wong.

 

The alternative, he added, is to emulate former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who did nothing in the face of Mahathir’s attacks and was eventually forced to vacate his post.

 

On that note, Wong believes that Najib and Abdullah are cast in different moulds.

 

"Pak Lah (Abdullah) lost because he was not a fighter, he gave in earlier. But Najib and his wife are both fighters and we don't know how far he is willing to take it."