Noting that Abdul Rahman holds the position of Strategic Communications Director in Barisan Nasional, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Rahman’s statement could be a prelude to an announcement that the Prime Minister would be giving up his position.

Speaking to FMT, Awang Azman said it was possible that Najib would, before GE14, hand over power to either Acting Umno Deputy President Zahid Hamidi or Umno Vice-President Hishammuddin Hussein.

In any case, he added, Abdul Rahman’s confirmation of MO1’s identity would increase pressure against BN and Najib and strengthen the opposition’s stand with regard to 1MDB.

“Najib will now be pushed further against the wall and will need the division chiefs and the Umno Supreme Council to defend him,” he said. “It is all up to Umno as the other BN component parties are not likely to get involved.”

However, he also said Najib’s resignation might not be on the cards at all and that Abdul Rahman made his revelation only because he had no choice, knowing that the foreign press had already identified Najib as MO1.

If this was the case, he said, Umno leaders might start attacking Abdul Rahman and it was conceivable that he would lose his position as BN’s communications strategist.

Abdul Rahman’s revelation was made in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation.