Former PM, Mahathir joins opposition to topple current Malay PM Najib

The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

By: Norila Daud
(Senior Journalist – Malaysia)

The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who resigned recently from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party, hand in hand with the ex-Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin who has been sacked from the ministry’s cabinet and also suspended from UMNO recently, have joined the opposition party in signing a so-called Citizens’ Declaration.

The Citizens’ Declaration emphasizes on removing the Prime Minister, Najib Razak from office over several allegations related to RM2.6 billion and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandals.

On February 29, 2016, Dr. Mahathir resigned from UMNO, saying the party that he once led now struggles only to protect its president, Najib. He also alleged that Najib was responsible for the current deteriorating political and economic situation in the country, and that the leading Malay ruling party (UMNO) was no longer what it used to be.

“The focus (of UMNO now) is how to keep Najib as prime minister…UMNO no longer is performing the task it set for itself way back in 1946,” he said.

On the same day, the Communications and Multimedia Minister, Salleh Said Keruak, who is one of the loyalists and supporters of Najib, commented that Dr. Mahathir did right when he quitted UMNO.

“If Dr. Mahathir wants to continue to attack UMNO, then he should do so from outside UMNO. That would be the noble and ethical thing to do,” Salleh said.

However, UMNO leaders and ministers might not have expected Dr. Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin to join their biggest rivals and threat – the opposition party.

Dr. Mahathir, who was the prime minister and UMNO President for 22 years until his retirement in 2003, has been a severe critic against Najib over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and the RM2.6 billion, since after The Wall Street Journal having allegedly reported last July that around RM2.6 billion were channelled into the Prime Minister’s personal account in 2013 from SRC International or 1MDB public funds, which nobody knew before.

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad prays with opposition leaders as they attend the “People’s Congress 2016” event in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Sunday, March 27, 2016. Mahathir and United Malays National Organization (UMNO) leaders gathered to urge Prime Minister Najib Razak to resign over corruption allegations. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked from his post as a Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and suspended recently from UMNO, has been also a severe critic against Najib. He recently pledged to continue championing institutional reforms and upholding the truth surrounding the corruption allegations.

On February 27, 2016, aspiring for a political reform, Muhyiddin said, “He (the prime minister Najib) can commit any crime and escape punishment. This is unfair and is against the principle that all men are equal before the law.”

However, the prime minister Najib said that he has never used public funds, the RM2.6 billion was only a donation from a Saudi Arabian Prince, and that the spreading allegations are only a tactic and conspiracy to topple down a democratically elected government.

The jailed opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, who is serving five years in prison for sodomy, applauded Dr. Mahathir and Muhyiddin Yassin`s courage and bravery in joining the opposition and inking a citizen declaration to remove Najib and make systemic change. De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim cast his support to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and institute systemic reforms.

From prison, he said, “I support the position of friends in civil society, political parties, and individuals, including Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, and others to build up strength and common understanding together as articulated by the leader of the opposition recently.

Dr. Mahathir once or few weeks ago said, he might share one cell in prison with Anwar Ibrahim.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, center, attends a special press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, March 4, 2016. Mohamad joined with political foes Friday in issuing a declaration signed by 58 public figures urging Prime Minister Najib Razak to resign over corruption allegations. (AP Photo)

But now the rising questions are: Is Dr. Mahathir, who was once the biggest foe against the opposition party, now fully convinced that the opposition party was right, and on the right path? Or is the opposition party now taking advantage of Dr. Mahathir`s stance and campaign against Prime Minister Najib for their own political motivation, which is, taking over Putrajaya? And will Dr. Mahathir still support UMNO or get back to UMNO and oppose the opposition party if Najib resigns, or will he still be in alliance with the opposition party?

Meanwhile, Najib Razak criticized Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and few UMNO leaders who moved to work with the opposition party, forgetting the UMNO’s principles in their struggle.

Cynically, the prime minister said, if the group who declared themselves as champions of the “Citizens’ Declaration’ think that cooperating with the opposition party will threaten the ruling government (BN), they have made a mistake because BN still remains strong.

Dr. Mahathir made a strange move when he decided to sit together with his political enemy just to fulfil his aim to topple the prime minister.

Concurrently, many people have questioned Dr. Mahathir’s position as a national hero because within the opposition parties, they have named him as the ‘Firaun’ (cruel image).

Najib also said, his focus and the BN leadership has never been shaken by the unwarranted move and agenda because the priorities of the government are to serve the people.

“In the name of god, we will continue to carry our responsibilities in the BN government as the citizens have entrusted us to implement what have been mandated.”

Najib Razak leaves to the Supreme Council of UMNO (MT) and the Disciplinary Committee to take action against Muhyiddin Yassin and other UMNO leaders who have cooperated with the opposition party to sign the ‘Citizens’ Declaration.’

With regards to the feedback from members of UMNO, Najib said, they have expressed their concerns and felt angry and frustrated over the actions taken by Muhyiddin Yassin and some UMNO leaders who have collaborated with the opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang as Advisor of Democratic Action Party (DAP).