Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said his government has the mandate and the majority to rule, brushing aside increased efforts by his critics to remove him from office.
The government’s focus is on economic development, and the level of confidence people have in the administration will become clear at the next polls, Najib told reporters in Johor State on Sunday.
An election is due by 2018 after the ruling coalition won in 2013 with its slimmest margin yet.
“As far as we are concerned, the litmus test will be when it comes to election time,” Najib said. “At the moment, the government will continue as we have the mandate, we have the numbers in parliament and the party is also behind the government. We will continue.”
Malaysia’s economic growth and investments are slowing, while businesses and consumers face price pressures as the government removes subsidies and after the implementation of a goods and services tax last year. Najib is giving bigger cash handouts to lower-income households to help them cope with rising costs, a move that may also shore up his support within the United Malays National Organization’s main base — rural, ethnic Malays.
Najib is facing his biggest political crisis since coming to power seven years ago as questions linger over US$681 million which appeared in his personal accounts before the 2013 polls, funds he said were a donation from the Saudi royal family.
Malaysian Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali in January closed the door on a graft probe, clearing Najib of wrongdoing over the “personal contribution” and saying the premier later returned US$620 million that was not utilized.
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is waging a public campaign to get the premier out, with Mahathir warning the coalition led by Najib’s party risks losing office if he stays on.
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