YOURSAY | ‘Are Malaysian voters so gullible that a change of leader wipes the slate clean?’

Why Prime Minister Najib is on his way out

FellowMalaysian: A well thought-out and thoroughly-researched article by political scientist Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

Lim has presented a totally new outlook and a possibility which perhaps has eluded the minds of many observers as their thoughts and focus have been 'entrapped' in the current state of confusion and predicament concerning the woes of 1MDB, the PM as well as the country.

There is good reason to suspect that Najib Abdul Razak has started contemplating the exit route as his mere presence as the PM will become a maligned liability to Umno in the run-up to GE14.

Lim has apparently missed out another noxious reason why Najib will capitulate soon. Though he has successfully emasculated the entire systems and setups of check-and-balance agencies in the country, the charges brought forth by the US Justice Department (DOJ) last month against individuals linked to misappropriated funds belonging to 1MDB have unequivocal implications on him as well as Umno, and he is unable to pre-empt or forestall the unrolling of US courts.

SteveOh: Are Malaysian voters so gullible that a change of leader wipes the slate clean of a party's criminal wrongdoings? I hope not and I hope the opposition will not shoot themselves in the foot again and lose GE14 by default. Civil society must harp on the need for accountability and leaders and their party who have broken promises must be discarded into the rubbish heap.

The corrupt get away with it because the country lets them by default. A fifth dimension is divine intervention and we may see the corrupt face the music through a series of unexpected events beyond what we imagine. Wait and see.

SusahKes: On paper, Lim’s suggestions would certainly appear to be attractive to a man desperately hanging on by his coattails, surviving only by virtue of support from Umno's fixed deposit vote bank.

In a local context, he might just achieve the dynamic balance between peaceful retirement and the jet-set celebrity life; who wouldn't with RM2.6 billion (and more) of government-guaranteed funds inside one's personal bank account.

However, would his retirement turn away the spotlight from the various investigations, for example the US Department of Justice (DOJ)? What would happen when the DOJ finally strips 1MDB of its ill-gotten assets? Would the delivery boys then, finally sing? We are talking about money-laundering - a criminal activity.

And almost everyone opines that the present DOJ actions are merely the beginning. Not that I doubt our Malaysian Official 1's (MO1) capability of even circumventing that, when push comes to shove. There are enough dictators around the world who would warmly welcome an ex-multibillion dollar head of government.

And oh, if he does retire (a big if), I do hope he will finally muster the courage to sue his detractors. No?

HaveAGreatDay: This is not the ideal solution to the 1MDB scandal, but beggars cannot be choosers. It looks like MO1 is so well-entrenched that only Lim's scenario bears some hope that our nation will be rid of him.

CQ Muar: Najib ought to be the world's greatest chess player of all time. Rightfully, he should be nominated for an honourable award for his far-sighted scheming, strategy and manoeuvring in positioning the right people in the right place to defend and speak out for him in the event he decides to call it a day.

With all those well-fed ‘defenders’ in place, Najib will truly be in a state of euphoria, and ensure he has a comfortable future to luxuriate in with Rosmah Mansor in a country of their choice. The bottom line is, Umno had been debunked and has degenerated to such a low level it no longer can rule this country, but must be defeated in the next general election at all costs.

May all the good people of this beloved country of ours come together, regardless of race or religion, stand up against the betrayers of this nation by voting them out. If not for ours, at least for the children's sake and future.

6th Generation Immigrant: Mismanagement and monies allegedly stolen from the country cannot be appeased with just Umno resignations. This is a federation we are talking about. Umno is not Malaysia, Malaysia is not Umno. We have laws.

On another note, Najib scraped the bottom of barrels for supporters to fill positions, all these appointed ‘strong supporters’ will surely become collateral damage, falling like dominoes when Najib does resign - someday. The ‘supporters’ all got involved directly and publicly. How and who can hold their heads up high in Umno to win in the next elections?

Another two say "some words in support" but are truly keeping an arm’s length from being associated directly to the scam - but to hold the fort? Mahathir is right, Umno must be totally vanquished for Malaysia to start anew.

Anonymous 1890491455255851: Najib has been saying constantly, that when the truth is revealed, all the insults will disappear and basically, he will be vindicated.

My question is this - if he knows the truth will free him from what he sees as unjustified vilification, why doesn't he just tell us what it is? Why is it so hard to do that?

Any leader of a country, faced with such huge allegations of impropriety, if innocent, would do everything to get the truth out there. All we've got is the explanation of a dubious Arab ‘donor’ who might actually be one of the two Arabs charged with fraudulent activities.

Just a Malaysian: I agree with Lim on his thoughts. That is why I believe Malaysia will change only when the majority of Malays are ready. A six-months-before-election switch to DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may convince rural Malays of a revitalised Umno.

Unless our Malay comrades are prepared to try a new government, we will be stuck with racial-religion dominance until we face total economic collapse from debts and non-productivity.

Kingfisher: Lim, whose opinions on a number of socioeconomic issues previously has had the insight of a forensic mind, is perhaps a little frivolous on this occasion in this prognosis of politics in the year ahead.

He leaves one with a disconcerting feeling that the Malays in general including many in Umno are going to forget the greatest disservice rendered the nation by those few who held the reins of government in recent years.

It is inconceivable that a proud culture still fledgling to enshrine a responsible civilisation will not enable itself to overcome opposition to creativity, innovation and for democratic exchange of ideas. It is equally inconceivable that such people will not motivate themselves to rid the suppression of true knowledge and information.

There is hope as no civilised culture has ever fostered indefinitely, wittingly or otherwise, tyranny, however cleverly it is camouflaged.

Ah-Hah!!!: This reminds me of the time when a speaker made a similar point (about Najib stepping down) during some forum not long ago. A young Malay woman retorted, "Tapi Rosmah tak bagi!"

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