malaysia
Citizens’ Declaration Dr Mahathir’s personal agenda, says Najib
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre) says today he has the people’s support despite attempts by his critics to hound him out of office. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 12, 2016.Datuk Seri Najib Razak took a swipe at his mentor-turned-critic Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today, saying the Citizens’ Declaration is just the retired politician’s method to oust him from power.
“It’s not a declaration of the rakyat. It’s not about the people.
“It’s a personal agenda,” Najib said in Kuching today.
The prime minister also said it was a “smokescreen” to claim that the people wanted to remove him from office.
“Don’t get the people involved because it’s not about the people.
“It’s your personal agenda,” he said when launching the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) Minda programme in the Sarawak capital today.
He said a large number of people in the Bornean state did not support the declaration, unveiled on March 4 and which brought together political foes from Umno and the opposition, as well as some civil society leaders in an unlikely alliance.
Najib said the people should use their ability to think and distinguish between facts and promises made that could not be delivered.
Dr Mahathir, supported by old political allies in Umno and Barisan Nasional, as well as foes, such as DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, signed the declaration last week demanding Najib quit as prime minister and for institutional reforms to restore integrity to government bodies.
The group reportedly is targeting a million people to sign the declaration and will also join a gathering on March 27 as part of the Save Malaysia Movement’s roadshow to press for Najib’s removal.
For launching the declaration, Dr Mahathir was dropped yesterday as adviser to national oil company Petronas.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the Cabinet had discussed the retired leader’s actions and found them to be aimed at “toppling a democratically elected government”. – March 12, 2016.
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