What happens after Najib?

Monomania reigns in Malaysia. The subject of the times is Najib Razak, and nobody knows what to do about him – beyond calling for his resignation, that is.

The controversy roiling around the Prime Minister has been getting noisier and noisier since Sarawak Report’s first exposure on financier Jho Low early last year. By now, a good portion of Malaysians will gravitate instantly to any movement calling for Najib’s ouster. Or so it seems. For example, the Shah Alam Convention Centre was filled to the rafters last Sunday as people flocked to listen to the motley group of politicians and activists castigate Najib one by one.

However, the excitement has wound down somewhat since Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, reacting to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s declaration of support for Najib, posted an unsigned statutory declaration on his Facebook showing backing for the Kelantan prince as prime minister. The document states a loss of confidence in Najib’s leadership and recommends the Tengku as his successor.

There’s a current of uncertainty in the Opposition. It seems that nobody really knows what to do with this new revelation.

What is Tengku Razaleigh up to? The long-time politician has a reputation for opacity. Requests for his comments on current issues are frequently met with non-committal answers. If Tengku Razaleigh is truly aiming for the top post in Umno and the Putrajya administration, it could put a spanner in the works for the anti-Najib movement.

Tengku Razaleigh has denied knowledge of the statutory declaration. Reacting to an allegation by former PM Mahathir Mohamad, he said he hadn’t betrayed anyone. “I was never part of any movement to begin with; so how can you accuse me of switching sides?” he said. Nobody knows who he’s for.

What one can tell so far from his stance is that he seems to be all for “good governance”. But that still doesn’t tell us what role he’s going to play in the war that pits Najib and Umno with the anti-Najib forces.

Whatever the prognosis is, it isn’t going to dampen the calls for Najib’s blood. And therein lies the problem. Everybody’s talking, but nobody knows what’s going on and what to do.

What happens after Najib steps down? Who’s next in line? Will it turn out to be a case of Tengku Razaleigh versus Mahathir, possibly prolonging the struggle further? What happens to the Umno leaders who support Najib? Will they acquiesce or be overthrown in a thorough overhaul of the party’s leadership? Let’s not kid ourselves; the Opposition isn’t going to be a factor in this. It’s going to be a battle between Umno’s heavyweights, and nobody has any real answers to the question of what is going to happen or should happen.

The Citizens’ Declaration is heavy on demands and reasons for Najib’s removal, and amazingly short on what the signatories are going to do to replace him and his allegedly inept policies.

Contrary to what most of the anti-Najib crowd may think, removing Najib isn’t the one and only solution. It’s a solution. Sadly, we don’t seem to know what to do once he’s gone. It would be a shame if that becomes the anti-Najib movement’s epitaph.

By Mikha Chan