Opposition politicians and civil society leaders at the launch of the Citizens' Declaration led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today. Umno says the former prime minister is only strengthening the party by working with its enemies. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, March 4, 2016.Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's move in forging a collaborative alliance with Umno's sworn enemies to topple Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not work, said Barisan Nasional strategic communication director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who said the move would only strengthen Najib's position as prime minister and Umno president.
"Collaborating with sworn enemies of Umno will only strengthen PM's position within Umno, I thank you Tun (Dr Mahathir)," he tweeted today.
Dr Mahathir, who quit Umno on March 1, today signed a "Citizens' Declaration" in a move to oust Najib as prime minister.
Over 50 other people, including his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and their son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, signed the declaration.
The others included Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Datuk Mustafa Ali, Lim Kit Siang and Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa described what happened as the "most entertaining drama" in the nation's political history.
"We congratulate DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersih because they finally accepted the former Umno president (Dr Mahathir) when for decades we in Umno had tried to get them to accept his leadership," he said in a statement.
According to him, Umno will continue to uphold the democratic process which it has defended all along.
Annuar said Umno also had no time to entertain "histrionics" because the mandate given by the people was to look after their welfare.
"We are responsible for economic growth, foster unity, ensure peace and stability and defend the country's sovereignty," he said.
Umno Youth vice-head Khairul Azwan Harun said the "strange bedfellows" combination was not qualified to pressure Najib, who was elected by the people and Umno members, to step down.
"Tun Dr Mahathir should not be showing such a bad example to youths. When he was Umno president and prime minister, Umno members stood by him through thick and thin," he said in a statement.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the movement purportedly to save Malaysia by Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Mukriz did not reflect the aspiration of the people.
Using the people's name when they signed the "Citizens' Declaration" would never be accepted whereas the people's true declaration was their voice during the general election, he said in a statement today.
"Just wait for the people's declaration in the 14th general election. That is the real voice of the people and not through the group participated by Tun Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz today.
"Thus, I hope all Umno members will unite to oppose any action by the coalition of Tun Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, Datuk Seri Mukhriz, DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersih which clearly are the main enemy of Umno all this while," said the rural and regional development minister.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said described the group as frustrated and immature politicians, adding they clearly rejected the mandate given by the people in the last general election.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the action of Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin was not only regrettable but so-called "Citizens' Declaration" had tarnished all the principles and struggles that both leaders had been equipped with when they were leaders in Umno.
"Wanita Umno exco which met today and delegates representing the Wanita Umno throughout the country have unanimously pledged their support for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the prime minister and Umno president to lead the country as a leader who was elected through a democratic process," said Shahrizat after chairing a Wanita Umno meeting in Sabah tonight.
"Wanita Umno represent 1.3 million members and that is excluding the Puteri members. So, our voice cannot be 'sidelined' or silenced."
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein questioned Dr Mahathir's wisdom for such a move.
"I cannot understand how Dr Mahathir and some Umno leaders can join forces and sit together in the same table with the opposition leaders from PKR, PAS, DAP, Amanah and other non-governmental organisations to topple the prime minister.
"These are the very same people who have tried various ways to bring down the stable government through protests, demonstrations and road rallies. Has he forgotten that these are the same NGOs that called Dr Mahathir a pharaoh?" he said. – Bernama, March 4, 2016.
Comments
Please refrain from nicknames or comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature, or you may risk being blocked from commenting in our website. We encourage commenters to use their real names as their username. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments