malaysia
Gathering tomorrow to protest Dr Mahathir’s role in movement to oust Najib
Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegubard says the gathering at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tomorrow is to protest Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s involvement in the Citizens Declaration and reiterate the demand for the prime minister to step down. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 11, 2016.Opposition supporters are gathering tomorrow night to protest former Umno strongman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s involvement in a new citizen’s movement.
The gathering is a sign that response to the Dr Mahathir-driven Citizens' Declaration to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is fractured due to the politically diverse make-up of the movement.
The gathering at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall will see ordinary individuals take to the microphone to state their stand on Dr Mahathir, a prime mover of the March 4 Citizens' Declaration.
It is being organised by nine groups who have supported opposition parties and including student associations and civil society organisations.
A spokesman for one of the organisers, Badrul Hisham Shahrin, said the gathering will reiterate the demand for Najib to step down and for the release of former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The people who will be there are ordinary taxi drivers, housewives, factory workers and students. They will each be given five minutes to state their opinions of the Citizens' Declaration,” said Badrul when contacted.
“Our aim is to show how those who have supported real reform do not want the people who have destroyed the institutions of this country to be part of our movement.
“We agree that Najib should resign but why should we gang up with the likes of Dr Mahathir?” said Badrul, also known as Chegubard, who heads the youth group Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia.
“At the end of the day, the opposition will also have to face Dr Mahathir and all these Umno leaders in the next general election.”
The Citizens' Declaration was signed at a gathering of political foes who came together to press Najib to resign and to push for institutional reforms.
It was signed by Dr Mahathir, his staunchest political rivals and former political prisoners during his 22-year administration.
The declaration, which was also signed by Umno leaders Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, has been criticised by some Pakatan Harapan supporters, civil society groups and Barisan Nasional parties.
The gathering will also announce a working committee that will review all of the country’s past financial scandals starting from the Najib administration all the way back to Dr Mahathir. – March 11, 2016.
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. 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