By Leslie Lopez, Senior Regional Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: - The worsening crisis in Perak state is fast becoming a political runaway train that is lurching out of control for the Barisan Nasional government.

Unless the paralysis in Perak is quickly resolved, the crisis could define the first 100 days in office of Prime Minister Najib Razak and distract his administration's attention away from managing the slumping economy, analysts and politicians say.

Already, several senior politicians from Datuk Seri Najib's own ruling Umno party are calling on the government to dissolve the state assembly and pave the way for fresh elections.

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