KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s action in conspiring with the opposition and initiated the Mahathir declaration aimed to oust Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as prime minister has been seen as an attempt that will only divide the people in this country.
Professor Emeritus Datuk Paduka Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Ab. Majid of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said the move clearly contradicted the principles of parliamentary democracy practiced in Malaysia. He said this upheaval will only give excuse for outsiders to create disharmony among the people.
He told to stop pursuing personal agenda for the sake of the people, peace and unity in this country. He said this when met by reporters after a scholars’ dialogue at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia, here Tuesday. Last Friday, the former prime minister led a group of over 50 people in signing the declaration.
The group included former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, former MCA president, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang. Meanwhile, the 1Malaysia Division Umno Deputy Chiefs Club urged the government to relieve Dr Mahathir of all his positions in government-linked companies (GLCs).
“We urge the government to use its power over the GLCs to strip Dr Mahathir off his posts as Perdana Leadership Foundation chairman, Petronas adviser and Proton chairman,” said the club’s chairman Datuk Muhd Anuar Mohd Yunus in a press conference.
Muhd Anuar, who is also Temerloh Umno division deputy chief, representing some 80 1Malaysia Umno division deputy chiefs also handed a memorandum in support of Najib’s leadership, to Umno office representative, Azwan Aziz, representing Umno secretary-general, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, here Tuesday.
Under the memorandum, they strongly condemned and rejected all forms of involvement by present and past Umno leaders in approving, supporting and signing the declaration. He said the club also called on Umno Supreme Council to sack Muhyiddin, Mukhriz and Umno veteran, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, for signing the declaration.
