Analysis | Analysis: Najib Razak, 'biggest warlord in Malaysia', sends message to opponents with sackings amid 1MDB scandal
Can the prime minister weather a full-blown wealth-fund scandal and a fractious party?
Malaysia’s deputy prime ministers have rarely had it easy. To play the role of the utterly loyal number two while hinting at one’s potential as a future number one requires extreme political adroitness.
Most have failed and faded into ignominy as also-rans. Others are now fierce critics of the government.
An already polarised country is being thrown into deeper turmoil with the capital Kuala Lumpur swirling with ominous rumours of arrests and more sackings, including that of well-respected central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, all because she is investigating the 1MDB scandal.
Charge sheets allegedly showing that Najib was about to be prosecuted for corruption surfaced on Thursday. Public prosecutors have denied their existence.
The government has also had to come out to say it is not planning to arrest Muhyiddin. Meanwhile, civic groups are planning to launch street protests.