A few months back most Malaysians were betting on their last dime that Prime Minister Najib Razak will be forced out of power.
Today, he has become so mercilessly powerful.
The late night bulldozing of the National Security Council bill means Najib has given himself the power to declare an emergency without the consent of the Agong.
He can declare a security zone, where the police and military can make warrantless arrests. And he has consolidated the police and army under him.
In short Najib has completely taken away our freedom and inherent rights, while steering the country into the dark corridors of authoritarian rule.
And in doing so he has thumbed his fist against UMNO and the rumblings of dissatisfaction against him, following allegations of massive corruption when USD 700 million made its way into his private bank account through companies linked to 1Malaysia Development Fund.
Najib’s move to push through the NSC bill is a signal to top notch leaders in UMNO to shut up and not make a whimper about the eleven billion US dollars that the sovereign fund had amassed in debt since it was set-up in 2009 to develop the country’s economy.
UMNO was split down the middle as Najib was seen as a liability to the party. Many were opposed to him leading the country to the next general polls, that must be called in 2018, fearing a shameful defeat. And to boot, opinion polls screamed red against Najib and his administration.
Now Najib can declare an emergency even as a caretaker Prime Minister, if he faces defeat at the polls.
And since all UMNO wants is to stay in power, it’s leaders will once again sing praises in public about the PM.
This is vile, to say the least.