The Straits Times: Ex M'sian PM Najib under siege, but still a force

Former Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak speaking to the press outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28, 2020. - Reuters

SINGAPORE, Aug 2 (The Straits Times/ANN): When the Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance suffered its first-ever election defeat in 2018 under the stewardship of Najib Razak, it seemed his political career was all but over.

Assailed by claims of rampant corruption, lavish spending and authoritarian rule during his nine years as Malaysia's prime minister, he was seen as out of touch and a liability to his Umno party.