Melaka Can Make Or Break Comeback Bids Of Najib, Muhyiddin

Battle for state may be bellwether for general election as two ex-PMs eye Malaysia’s top job

- Shannon Teoh

The battle for Melaka has pitted two recently deposed prime ministers against each other in what could be a crucial bellwether of their bids to return to the top of Malaysian politics.

Immediate past premier Muhyiddin Yassin has openly said that he could be back in his old job. His former boss Najib Razak is still widely influential in the ruling Umno, and intends to contest the next general election despite a graft conviction – which bans him from running for office – and dozens of charges being heard in relation to the scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The duo’s bitter rivalry dates back to 2015, after they clashed over billions of dollars stolen from 1MDB when Najib was prime minister, leading to Tan Sri Muhyiddin being sacked as deputy premier and Umno’s No. 2.

The scandal helped end Umno’s six-decade rule at the 2018 General Election, when it lost to the pact led by Mr Muhyiddin’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then Bersatu chairman, became the prime minister.

But Mr Muhyiddin later led defections from the government and succeeded Dr Mahathir as premier in March last year. Just 18 months later, in August this year, he was toppled after the Umno faction led by Najib and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pulled its support for his government.