The Associated Press
Published: March 26, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was formally elected chief of Malaysia’s ruling party Thursday, bringing him a step closer to taking over the government despite accusations that he will crack down on dissent.
Najib is to take over as prime minister next week from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is stepping down after 5½ years in office to take responsibility for the drubbing the ruling United Mal
ays National Organization party received in last year’s general elections. In a farewell speech Thursday, Mr. Abdullah warned that the party will perish if it continues with its old ways of silencing critics, jailing opponents and discriminating against minorities.
‘‘We must come to our senses,’’ Mr. Abdullah told the party’s annual congress.
Mr. Najib, 55, ran unopposed and was declared U.M.N.O. president without any voting. Results of elections for deputy president, three vice presidents and 25 Supreme Council members were to be announced late Thursday.
Mr. Najib is suave and articulate, but his ascent to power has not been without controversy. He has been accused of corruption, including allegations about a deal to purchase French submarines when he was defense minister.
Mr. Najib denies the allegations, which have dominated blogs and Internet postings by Malaysian activists. The mainstream media, which are government-controlled, have not reported the accusations.
On Monday, police fired tear gas on an opposition rally, and a day later the government shut down two opposition party newspapers for three months.
As a result, the newspapers will not be able to reach out to voters during three parliamentary by-elections on April 7 that are seen as a referendum on Mr. Najib’s popularity.
The ban on newspapers also silences them on April 9, when a court will deliver its verdict in the trial of two policemen accused of murdering a former mistress of a close friend of Mr. Najib. The friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, was tried as an accessory, but was acquitted.
Mr. Najib denies the opposition allegations that he knew the woman.
Mr. Najib will also have to grapple with an economy that is heading for recession. Malaysia’s central bank said Wednesday it expects exports — the main pillar of the economy — will fall by a quarter this year.