Twin election wins bolster scandal-hit Malaysian leader

Malaysia’s ruling coalition has gained victory in two by-elections, helping scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak solidify his grip on power.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition won the parliamentary seats for the two towns of Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar on Saturday, according to the election commission.

Najib’s coalition had secured a landslide win in the state of Sarawak last month.

Political experts now expect the premier to call snap polls to consolidate his reinvigorated position.

Najib used to be considered a protégé of ex-PM Mahathir Mohamad, before falling out with him. Mohamad now seeks to turn Malaysians against Najib over allegations of government corruption.

“Tun Mahathir Mohamad turned the elections into a referendum on my leadership,” Najib claimed in a statement after the elections. “They (the people) rejected Tun Mahathir’s lies.”

The former Malaysian leader, joined by dozens of opposition figures and ruling party members, had signed a joint statement calling for Najib’s ouster.

“We call upon all Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion, political situation, creed or parties, young and old, to join us in saving Malaysia from the government headed by Najib Razak,” the joint statement read.

Najib’s critics demanded his resignation after reports surfaced claiming that billions of dollars had been misappropriated through his pet project state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and deposits had been made into his private accounts worth up to $1 billion.

Najib has rejected the allegations.

The 1MDB fund also denies any wrongdoing and says it is cooperating with legal authorities investigating the corruption allegations against the fund.

1MDB is currently under international probes in at least six countries, including Switzerland and Singapore, over charges of money laundering and bribery.

In July 2015, The Wall Street Journal revealed that some $700 million had been transferred to Najib’s private accounts before the 2013 general elections. The report suggested that the money came from a state development fund.

In April, Saudi Arabia admitted that it had given nearly $700 million to Najib. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed that the $681 million Riyadh offered to the premier was a “genuine donation with nothing expected in return.”

Malaysia’s attorney general, last month, said Najib is clear of any criminal wrongdoing.

According to the attorney general, Najib had returned USD 620 million of the money to the Saudi royal family in August 2013, about five months after the original transfer.

However, the opposition has criticized the ruling, arguing that the transfer of personal donations did not rule out corrupt motives or transactions.

Najib met with the Saudi monarch King Salman bin Abdulaziz in March during a visit to Riyadh, where he emphasized that relations between the two sides were strong.

Najib came into office in 2009 promising a government free of corruption.

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