malaysia
Citizens’ Declaration morphs into ‘Save Malaysia’, targets a million names
PAS's Datuk Mahfuz speaks at a meeting yesterday with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other leaders who signed the Citizens’ Declaration. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 10, 2016.The group which signed the Citizens' Declaration last Friday demanding Datuk Seri Najib Razak quit as prime minister has morphed into the "Save Malaysia Movement" to be led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
A source who attended a meeting with the former prime minister last night said the movement was targetting a million people to sign the declaration demanding for Najib's resignation, and planned to set up a permanent secretariat with offices at state level.
The Malaysian Insider understands that nearly all the leaders who inked the declaration were present at the meeting, except for Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was not feeling well.
"Getting this movement structured is a huge success because it has brought leaders from different backgrounds to sit together to achieve a common goal," said the source, who requested anonymity.
"We talked about it at secretariat level so a leadership council can be formed with Tun (Dr Mahathir) at the helm," he said.
Last Friday, Dr Mahathir led 45 leaders including old political allies and foes to sign a declaration seeking Najib's removal from power.
Among those present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, DAP parliamentary chief Lim Kit Siang, former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.
"There is only one thing common among us, we as citizens want to express our worries and concern about what is happening to our country.
"We want to sign the declaration, which includes the removal of Najib as the prime minister," Dr Mahathir said to a packed press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
"This is not for or against Umno or about joining the opposition. It is not a political movement but a people’s movement," he added.
At last night's meeting, it was decided that former de facto law minister and ex-Umno member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, and PAS MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar would handle the secretariat for the time being, before more leaders were chosen.
The leaders also agreed that events to explain the movement and to gather signatures for the declaration would be held in various states.
Also present last night to share views were former PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, who initiated the first movement to "save Malaysia" in Kulai, Johor.
Others present at the meeting were former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, DAP parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, Batu MP Tian Chua, former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, Terengganu assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Ahmad Nawawi, Bukit Katil MP Samsul Iskandar Mat Akin and Sabah PKR chief Datuk Lajim Ukin.
Civil society leaders including former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Srevanasan, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) acting president Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid were also at the meeting, which lasted till 11pm. – March 10, 2016.
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