Malaysia's deputy prime minister denies that the government is on the brink of collapse

Malaysia's deputy prime minister denies that the government is on the brink of collapse
The Associated Press
17 April, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's deputy prime minister has urged the ruling party to unite after massive election losses, while dismissing opposition claims that the government was on the brink of collapse.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Wednesday there was no evidence that members of the ruling Untied Malays National Organization party were about to defect to the opposition.

"We are watching it very closely, of course, but so far there is no indication of anyone wanting to cross over," he told reporters.

Still, the statement tacitly acknowledged the deep instability in the Malay party that has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957 as the dominant member of the National Front coalition.

On Monday, de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he had the secret support of at least 30 government lawmakers — enough for his opposition alliance to form a simple majority in Parliament — but that he did not want a government with a wafer-thin majority. Anwar said he was prepared to wait until more lawmakers were ready to defect before making his move.

"We understand it (Anwar's claim) could be gamesmanship but we cannot take things for granted either," Najib said.

The coalition was thrown into disarray after the March 8 general elections, suffering its worst losses in history. For only the second time since 1957, the National Front lost its two-thirds majority, and for the first time lost control of five states.

"We are not in a crisis in the sense that we are going to be toppled at any time. I don't think that's the case," Najib said.

Even if the government survives, the once-unimaginable losses have left Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi struggling for political survival.

Faced last week with calls to step down, Abdullah said he would hand over power to Najib but he did not say when. The prime minister insisted he would defend his post of UMNO president in party elections in December before announcing a succession schedule.

Najib refused to say if party members wanted Abdullah to contest the post.

Abdullah "has the wisdom to decide what's best for the party" and will announce the succession plan "when the time comes," he said Wednesday.

"The important thing is for us to remain united in the party and work together as a team in the process of the revival of UMNO," Najib said. "We cannot afford to disintegrate from within."

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Associated Press reporter Vijay Joshi contributed to this report.