Mukhriz Mahathir target of possible PM purge amid rumours of reshuffle, say ruling party sources

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appears to be making moves to purge Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of his harshest critic Dr Mahathir Mohamad, from the ruling party as he further tightens his grip on power amid a weakening economy and fresh corruption allegations.

Mukhriz, the chief minister of the northern Kedah state, faced a sudden revolt from local members of the ruling Umno party, who on Wednesday called for him to step down.

Senior Umno sources told the South China Morning Post that Najib is also mulling over another cabinet reshuffle as part of efforts to consolidate power. He last reshuffled the cabinet on 28 July 2015.

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“There maybe a cabinet reshuffle,” a senior Umno member told the Post.

“Mukhriz has not exactly been toeing the line. He has made strong remarks against Najib and this is a culmination of event of the last few months,” said Kadir Jassin, a close associate of Dr Mahathir. “This reflects the continuation of the growing intolerance against criticism by Najib and his supporters.”

Analysts and Umno members says Mukhriz will not be able to survive a revolt.

“I think there is a low chance of him staying as it’s clear that a big part of his own party leaders in Kedah appear to be distancing themselves from him,” says Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Center.