KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 – The Citizens’ Declaration led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak continues to receive wide condemnation all around. In KOTA BAHARU, Kelantan UMNO chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said he regretted by the action by Dr Mahathir, who recently quit UMNO, in teaming up with opposition figures in coming up with the declaration.
“Following this development, Kelantan UMNO wishes to reiterate its undivided support to the prime minister, we are loyal to the institution of the UMNO presidency and the prime ministership. We do not want his (Najib’s) leadership to disturbed more so in this trying economic times, when there is a need to foster greater harmony and address other challenges,” he said after chairing a meeting of the Kelantan UMNO Liaison Body here Sunday.
Mustapa, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister added that the democratic process must be respected if anyone wanted a change in the prime minister and that Kelantan UMNO left it to the UMNO’s leadership to to take action against UMNO leaders who joined Dr Mahathir in signing the declaration.
On Friday, Dr Mahathir, together with about 50 people, including DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, former UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali came up with the Citizens’ Declaration to oust Najib from his prime minister’s post.
In MELAKA, Senator Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam said the DAP is seen as having their own agenda when they opted to cooperate with Dr Mahathir to topple Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He doubted DAP’s agenda in the cooperation could bring good to the nation because the opposition party especially its veteran figure Lim Kit Siang, since in the past, was more prone towards bringing bad tidings to the country.
“DAP has been anti-federal constitution with the concept of Malaysian-Malaysia, DAP is anti-Islam in many matters, opposed to the position of the Malay Rulers and anti-Malay and Bumiputra Privileges,” he said via Short Messaging Service to Bernama here, yesterday.
“In this regard, it is hoped that UMNO members and the people are not influenced by the DAP-Tun Dr Mahathir movement. There are still a lot of question marks why DAP is willing to cooperate with Tun Dr Mahathir when prior to this people saw them as enemies,” he said.
Meanwhile, in KANGAR, Perlis UMNO Youth lauded and thanked Dr Mahathir for exiting UMNO and dragging with him several party leaders to be in cahoots with the opposition. Its chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar also thanked suspended UMNO deputy president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for revealing his true colours and having gone over the limit as a member and leader of the party.
In PORT DICKSON, Barisan Nasional leaders at the branches and divisions have been urged to be more aggressive in explaining to the people the issues raised by the opposition. Jempol Member of Parliament Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said this was necessary to ensure the people were not deviated by the same issues which had been raised in the past and had already been settled.
In KUANTAN, the Indera Makota UMNO Division slammed Dr Mahathir for working hand-in-glove with the opposition to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak via the declaration and not using the right channels. Its chief Datuk Mustafar Kamal Abdul Hamid said Dr Mahathir’s action with several UMNO and opposition political figures was seen as disrespecting the constitution and the parliamentary system of government in the country.
In KEMAMAN, the UMNO Disciplinary Board was urged to take firm action including sacking UMNO members who were working with the opposition pact to press for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to quit. Terengganu BackBencher’s Club chairman, Wan Abdul Hakim Wan Mokhtar, who is also Terengganu UMNO Liaison Committee Information Chief, said the action of UMNO members in conspiring with others to topple Najib, who is also UMNO President, was not apt and should be firmly acted against.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Subang UMNO chief Datuk Zein Isma Ismail said the division wanted UMNO’s top leadership to call an emergency meeting to take the appropriate against the “renegades”. He said they also want to government to remove all privileges extended to Dr Mahathir like being advisor to Proton. He said this in a statement.
Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president Datuk M.Sambathan said Dr Mahathir was not respecting the democratic process in calling for the ouster of Najib as prime minister. He said they at IPF reject any attempt to forge a cooperation with the opposition, instead we are indebted for each and every kind deed by Najib specifically for the Indian community in the country. He said this in a statement. He added that the IPF would continue to give undivided support to Najib to lead the country.
