Bangkok: A senior Malaysian minister has warned of a plot within his country's ruling party to topple the government, the latest twist in an internecine power struggle in the Malaysian capital.
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Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Home Minister and vice-president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), says the "efforts to stab the government in the back" involve recruiting MPs, including from opposition parties, to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak in parliament.
"I can smell it," he said, citing reliable sources.
Mr Najib, 62, is fighting for his political survival over allegations that $US700 million was sent into his personal bank account.
Accusations are also swirling around sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, which is $US9.3 billion in debt.
Malaysia's central bank last week completed an investigation into the fund and submitted a report recommending "appropriate enforcement action" to the country's chief prosecutor.
Mr Najib set up the fund in 2009 and remains chairman of its board.
The prime minister insists he has never taken any money for personal gain but has not explained publicly how the money allegedly came into his personal account.
Malaysia's anti-corruption commission says the cash came from a donor in the Middle East and will ask Mr Najib for an explanation.
Mr Zahid told a party meeting at the weekend he would put an end to the plot to topple the government.
"I ask all leaders to rise and ensure this doesn't happen," he said.
The government is facing a massive anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur on August 29 which police may attempt to stop, raising the possibility of trouble.
Amid calls for the prime minister to resign, including from within UMNO's ranks, Mr Najib has mounted a protracted counter-offensive, declaring he is the victim of an international conspiracy and threatening to sue The Wall Street Journal, which reported details of the alleged bank account transfer.
Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have also issued an arrest warrant for Claire Rewcastle-Brown, the founder of the London-based Sarawak Report, which first revealed the sovereign fund allegations.
Mr Najib last month sacked his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who publicly criticised him in relation to the sovereign fund, and four other ministers.
He also replaced the attorney-general who was leading an investigation into the scandal and has suspended leading newspapers.
On Friday, Mr Najib announced the setting-up of a committee to set guidelines for political funding, which appeared to be in response to claims within UMNO that the money that found its way into Mr Najib's account was used to finance an election in 2013.
Malaysia's election law does not require political parties to divulge the source of their funds but stipulates a maximum amount candidates can spend during a two-week campaign.
Malaysia's opposition has sought legal action to try to nullify the election, claiming the ruling coalition violated funding limits.
But Mr Najib's biggest threat is growing dissent within UMNO, the party that has been in power in one form or another since 1957.
Calls for him to resign are being led by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who plotted to oust another prime minister to install Mr Najib.
Writing on his blog, Dr Mahathir ridiculed suggestions that a Middle East donor would give $US700 million to Mr Najib to contest an election.
"This claim that Arabs donated billions (of ringgit) is what people describe as hogwash or bull---," Dr Mahathir said.
"Certainly I don't believe it and neither can the majority of Malaysians if we go by the comments on social media," he said. "The world has a good laugh."
Dr Mahathir said democracy is dead in the country he led for 22 years.
"It is dead because an elected leader chooses to subvert the institutions of government for sustaining himself," he said.
