kuala lumpur malaysia rule party unite behind scandal-tainted prime minister najib razak prepare general election due august decide friday could stand unopposed party leadership contest due time next year najib hop win third term despite multi-billion dollar corruption scandal 1malaysia development berhad 1mdb dog premiership last two years najib consistently deny wrongdoing state fund found serve chairman advisory board last annual party conference general election unite malays national organisation umno give najib deputy ahmad zahid hamidi free pass retain post party leadership ballot next year therefore spirit togetherness mutuality ... state-run news agency bernama quote permanent chairman badruddin amiruldin say decide assembly post president hold datuk seri najib razak post deputy president datuk seri dr ahmad zahid hamidi contest come elections 1mdb controversy first erupt 2015 najib quash internal revolt umno leaders ask step block inquiry affair leadership elections postpone go purge party dissent also drop former liberal image crack opponents civil society move umno close conservative islamist value worry malaysia sizable chinese indian minorities address conference early week najib call loyalty umno 3.4 million members absolute loyalty obey instructions top leadership say keynote address party faithful four years ago umno creep back power despite register bad ever election performance opposition front lead charismatic anwar ibrahim call foul lose despite win popular vote time however challenge come veteran mahathir mohamad give premiership 2003 22 years power najib political mentor mahathir come retirement team anwar languish jail convict case independent observers say politically motivate rebound economy strengthen ringgit currency help najib improve image among malaysians frustrate corruption rise live cost 1mdb scandal refuse go away u.s. attorney general week refer case bad example kleptocracy department justice investigate malaysia 's rule party unite behind najib election loom