MUKHRIZ POISON PILL FOR NAJIB? Will Dr M spring a surprise as Najib camp pressures his son to quit

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has often been reviled as a despotic ruler with a ruthless streak. However, he is also known for his spine of steel and for his devotion to his wife and children.

The last time some one from Umno put the screws on one of Mahathir's sons over a failed business deal, that son reportedly tried to commit suicide. But a worse fate befell the unfortunate Umno leader who had refused to grant what would be tantamount to a government bailout. That Umno man, who was second only to Mahathir in Umno and government hierarchy, was unceremoniously sacked and stuffed behind bars.

Now all that purportedly took place in the 1990s.  Fast forward to the present. Mahathir is now 90 years of age but still as sharp and playing a game far deeper and more complex than the casual observer, or even his feeble rival Prime Minister Najib Razak, can visualize or comprehend.

Mahathir's youngest son, Mukhriz, is now under threat. His position as the Kedah chief minister and standing in Umno is at risk because of his dad's feud with Najib, the current Umno president.

Supporters of Najib have demanded that Mukhriz resigns his chief minister's post if he doesn't declare his support for Najib.Their rationale - it was Najib who 'kind-heartedly' gave Mukhriz his chance in Kedah. Therefore, Mukhriz owes Najib and if he doesn't show loyalty, he must make way for another.

Obviously, it is clear that many of Mukhriz''s foes, who are themselves eyeing his MB post, are likely to have more than loyalty-to-Najib on their minds. Be that as it may, the touted excuse is, Mukhriz must renounce his father's 'murder and theft' accusations against Najib. For Umno's sake, Mukhriz must choose - his PM or his dad?

It is hard to see Mukhriz deserting his father. The bond of closeness between Mahathir and his children is deep and reciprocal.

It is even more difficult to see Mahathir abandoning his quest to remove Najib as Umno president and Malaysian prime minister.

If anything, Mahathir has intensified his attacks against Najib. His tone of criticism is outright aggressive and he no longer bothers to 'save face' for Najib at all.

After Najib's lame TV interview, Dr M moves clash up to a 'new phase'

According to blogger and Umno insider Shahbudin Husin, Mahathir has not budged one bit despite Najib's high-profile pre-recorded TV interview on the issues raised by Dr M against him.

Mukhriz and mum Siti Hasmah

Indeed, soon after the TV interview, Mahahir probed and dug even deeper into Najib's Achilles heel. The older leader reiterated point-blank the very questions that Najib failed to address, or perhaps deliberately side-stepped, on 1MDB, Jho Low and Altanutya killer Sirul Azhar.

Even when warning Umno-BN leaders, Mahathir minced no words - support Najib at your peril. With Najib in charge, warned Mahathir, Umno-BN is bound to lose GE14 and when that happens, Umno-BN leaders will be charged for corruption and complicity by a merciless Opposition.

Even in when replying Najib's 'bombshell' that it was Mahathir who had wanted the 'Crooked Bridge' to be built, Mahathir ended up turning the tables on Najib. The elder leader revealed Najib had promised him he would revive the project. Such a shock revelation has proved to be more embarrassing to Najib than to Mahathir as it reflects the PM's duplicity when dealing with the public and when making promises in private to Umno power-brokers.

Who is the power behind Jho Low?

Similarly, Mahathir's call for an independent commission that can freely and fairly investigate any misconduct or fraud in 1MDB has knocked the wind out from Najib' sails.

In his latest attack, Tun Mahathir also continued to question who is the real power behind Jho Low. Why is he so powerful he is able to deal and transact large-scale sums of money on behalf of 1MDB?

After all, Jho Low - a close friend of Rosmah Mansor's son Riza Aziz - has insisted he is not a government employee or any part of the government. Why then do the top civil servants obey his instructions? Are the rumors true that Rosmah - who is Najib's second wife - has given him carte blanche over her husband's 'brainchild' - 1MDB.

Jho Low at the centre of 1MDB storm is a friend of Najibs step-son Riza Aziz and is close to Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor

It is obvious the clash between Dr M and Najib has entered a new and more explosive phase.

This may be why the Najib camp has pounced on Muhkriz to rattle Dr M.

Kedah state assemblyman for Bukit Lada Bukit Lada, Ahmad Lebai Sudin reportedly said, if Mukhriz does not dare openly express support for Najib, then he should quit.

According to Ahmad, Mukhriz holds the post of Chief Minister because he was appointed by Najib and had the support of BN assemblymen support. As such, Mukhriz should be grateful to the Prime Minister.

The Bukit Lada rep further claimed Mukhriz - during an Umno Kedah meeting - said he would wait for the results of the audit inquiry on the 1MDB, rather than rush into any declaration of support for Najib.

Putting pressure on Mukhriz to get at Dr M but Dr M may spring a surprise tactic

This development shows Mukhriz is in a 'quandary'. There is pressure on him as Najib's supporters fight back - through fair means or foul. In keeping with the 'maybe there is untung or gain for me' culture prevalent in Umno, more quarters can be expected to call out for Mukhriz's resignation as the Dr M-Najib battle intensifies.

It may eventually lead to either Mukhriz agreeing to step down as Chief Minister of Kedah or Tun Mahathir himself taking drastic and unforeseen measures.

It is hard to see Mukhriz abandoning his dad or his dad abandoning the fight against Najib.

One surprise strategy may be for Mukhriz to just resign. Surprise the Najib camp. By quitting, Mukhriz would actually automatically boost his father's position against Najib.

Will Dr M use a 'poison pill' strategy against the Najib camp

It will then dawn on Umno grassroots that Najib's move against Mukriz may cause their party to lose Kedah in the next general election. The pressure on corrupt Umno warlords, who like Najib for his award of government projects and hefty allowances, to act in the best interests of the nation will increase.

If during the Abdullah Badawi administration, Mahathir himself had resigned from Umno - pulling with him his substantial support, he can do the same if Najib refuses to step aside gracefully.

How will Umno-BN win GE14 then - perhaps the Umno warlords should awaken now and be warned by Mahathir's comment that they stand to face jail if the Opposition wins. Or in other words, if they continue to support Najib. Mahathir has hinted more than once - Umno-BN will lose if Najib is not removed.

This time the wily Mahathir may start with Mukhriz's resignation and then follow up with his own.

For Mahathir, the die is cast. He has uttered the words - Najib must go. Mahathir has no choice but to take tough actions to wake up UMNO-BN to the fact that they are a sinking ship.

For Najib, there is also no choice. All due warnings have already been given. Najib must retreat!  - MAILBAG