Malaysia's media propaganda war

To seek clarity in this propaganda war one must look on the ground.

Yes Malaysia's Premier Najib has been under siege with the 1MDB and 'political donation; scandals. His biggest critic has been former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. However until today, he has not been able to make any dints into the Najib armour.

To date Najib has withstood by various methods and manoeuvres government investigations, the UMNO Annual general meeting, and backlashes from within his own party. He is surrounded by a cadre of loyal ministers. From this perspective, Najib can see things out and maybe even win the next election due in 2018. Other BN components are relatively quiet.

However, the arms of international law are drawing closer, the Malaysian economy is quickly slipping, the people are beginning to suffer in everyday life with rapid increases in the cost of living as the Ringgit is falling drastically. Najib has also needed to repress freedom of speech to maintain his position which is beginning to stretch the system into a position where order could break down. A backlash within the grassroots of UMNO cannot be kept down forever.

So what should we believe today?

If Najib is about to flee from office and be brought down by his own party apparatus, then why is Mukhriz Mahathir, son so former Prime Minister Mahathir under threat by his own party today?

According to reports in the Malaysian Insider 14 out of 36 UMNO divisions want him replaced as Chief Minister immediately.

Firstly, UMNO is not united against Najib as Sarawak Report, Asia Sentinel and Malaysia Chronicle all suggest. Secondly, there are perhaps great divisions within UMNO, but even so, Najib still exercises great power within the party organization. Thirdly, Najib's departure from the Malaysian political scene may not be as fast as is being predicted by some quarters of the media.

What happens within the Malaysian political scene over the next few months will be very interesting.