Najib Razak has sacked four ministers, his attorney general and deputy prime minister to stamp out dissent. Photograph: Olivia Harris/Reuters
Malaysia’s opposition has filed a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister, Najib Razak, who is fighting for his political life amid corruption allegations and anger over a rise in the cost of living. The scandal emerged in July when media reports said investigators had found that nearly $700m (£450m) from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) state fund was transferred into the prime minister’s bank accounts. Opposition MP Hee Loy Sian, who proposed the motion, said in a notice filed to parliament that “the people of Malaysia can no longer trust the prime minister”. The motion was lodged as the 25th item on parliament’s order paper, making it unlikely to be voted on this month.
Najib, whose ruling party holds a majority in parliament, denies the allegations. He has sacked four ministers, his attorney general and deputy prime minister to stamp out dissent.
Hong Kong police and the FBI are investigating bank deposits purported to be linked to Najib. Swiss authorities have frozen millions of dollars in bank accounts linked to 1MDB. Najib’s former mentor and ex-prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has led calls for his resignation, and the 91-year-old attended anti-Najib protests in the heart of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, in August. Najib had relied on his tight grip over the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party to keep above the chaos.