If Najib quits as PM today ...

"... dan semua orang sudah lupakan kejadian (Hishammuddin) melambaikan keris 10 tahun lalu." - Merdeka Centre survey

If Najib Razak quits today, his cousin Hishammuddin Hussein, the Defence Minister and an Umno vice president, would be the people's No 1 choice as successor. Ot at least that's what the findings of the Merdeka Centre's latest survey say (Ramai rakyat Malaysia mahu Hishammuddin sebagai PM, menurut kajian - TMI, 11 March). 

I don't think one can argue that much with the survey's findings. Hisham has been most savvy in building up his image to his fellow Malaysians. He's not only youthful, popular with both the guys and the gals regardless of race and class, he's also very hardworking. He's cultivated the adulation of some mainstream editors and there's an army of social media practitioners who are said to be at his beck and call, reminiscent of Anwar Ibrahim when he was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's powerful deputy. 

Likewise, KJ: the Sports and Youth Minister, whose communications team comprises strategic thinkers who are blessed with a boss who himself is a great PR for himself. KJ, like it or not, has been seen by and large to have done and said the right things by the people, esp the youths.  

BUT lets' get one thing clear, Dear Readers: nobody's resigning. The Merdeka Centre's survey was carried out at the wake of calls made by some bloggers and politicians, urged on by exposes in their villain-turned-hero the Sarawak Report, (Taib the target before, Najib the target now, The Mole, March 12) that Najib should step aside (or step down) over a range of alleged wrongdoings, from  1MDB to his wife's hairdo. 

That's not going to happen. Two reasons: 

One, the UMNO leaders are solidly behind their President. If they had wanted to send Najib to pasture, they would have done so last November at the party's annual assembly. Last week, after an extended series of attacks on their Boss, the party leaders met to listen to his brief on 1MDB and other matters, and are satisfied that the issue is being used as a political weapon to attack Najib; and

Two, a special task force has been set up to look into the allegations. The Attorney-General, the Accoutant-General, the police, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are all on that Committee. The Auditor-General, who has exposed without fear or favour many irregularities and abuses in government, including the NFC scandal, which is an on-going court battle, is also in the picture. 

Jazlan: "More Oppo than Oppo"

Last but not least, the PAC led by NurJazlan Tok Mat will also have a go at the 1MDB. As one YAB told me two nights ago, "Jazlan is more Opposition than Opposition. If Najib had made a hole in there (1MDB), he will use Najib to plug that hole."  

Ah, but I've digressed. 

Back to the survey. Like all surveys, this Merdeka Centre's survey is flawed. For one, it didn't have a single candidate from Sabah/Sarawak for the respondents to pick. It has also totally isolated the non-Melayus. 

For more kepincangan and hidden agenda, read Helen Ang's Portal paling pro-Kristians sengaja kenakan Muhyiddin dan Mukhriz (12 March) 

p.s. Me, I have published my view on why Hisham (and a few others) SHOULD NOT BE the next Prime Minister of this country in KJ, DPM? (16 Oct 2014).