Dangerous times are ahead for Malaysia as its ruling party UMNO
desperately twists and turns to redeem itself ahead of a general
election that some believe will be won by the Opposition and others,
that it may never even take place.Political sources tell Malaysia Chronicle that UMNO divisions in three states - Johor, Terengganu and Perak - have already begun the ball rolling to get scandal-plagued Najib Razak to step down both as Prime Minister and UMNO president before the nation decides who is to form the next government.
The latest tell-tale signs that infighting is reaching a head are the rumors of racial riots spread by several pro-UMNO bloggers. Coming eerily hot on the heels of warnings issued by UMNO-linked leaders such as Ibrahim Ali and Shahrizat Jalil, the rumors fueled fear of a reprisal of the May 13, 1969 racial riots that left thousands injured and hundreds dead.
During the 1969 mayhem, Malay youths were egged on by UMNO leaders to attack the ethnic Chinese community in a 'kill two birds with one stone' stratagem.
The first and primary goal was to replace first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman with Abdul Razak Hussein, who ironically is Najib's dad. The second goal was to allow the UMNO leaders to grab complete political and economic dominance by accusing the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, of threatening and robbing the Malays of their losing 'birth rights'.
With the UMNO-led BN coalition now on the ropes following a torrent of corruption scandals that include sex and murder, there is fear that UMNO power brokers might resort to making Najib and his controversial wife Rosmah Mansor the scapegoats.
These sinister 'warlords' would then create chaotic conditions that would allow Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to delay the country's 13th general election and perhaps even impose martial law until the BN, which has ruled Malaysia since 1957, was again sure of winning.
Three scenarios