Malaysia PM Najib Razak warns of ‘nightmare’ election scenario, compares ex-leader Mahathir to Mugabe
Mahathir Mohamad has come out of retirement to try to oust the government over the 1MDB scandal, teaming up with his former nemesis, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim
Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Thursday it would be a “nightmare” for ethnic Malays if the opposition wins elections next year.
Opening a three-day annual assembly of his United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, Najib poked fun at the opposition coalition led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, saying the octogenarian was in the same league as former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe.
Umno is the linchpin of Malaysia’s ruling National Front coalition but its support has dwindled in the last two elections. It lost the popular vote for the first time to the opposition in 2013.
Despite being plagued by an epic corruption scandal that involved hundreds of millions of dollars passing through his bank accounts, Najib has clung to power and his coalition is likely to win elections due by August.
The opposition coalition was in disarray but has converged under 92-year-old Mahathir after he made a high-profile return to politics in a bid to oust Najib.
Mahathir has teamed up with his former nemesis, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.