Malaysia’s longest-serving former premier Mahathir Mohamad has launched an aggressive campaign to oust current Prime Minister Najib Razak, bringing forth a wide array of politicians and civil society activists in a broad-based coalition.
Describing the coalition as the start of a “national realignment” movement, Mahathir led a group of more than 50 politicians on Friday to sign the Citizens’ Declaration, seeking the removal of Najib.
The unprecedented show of solidarity cuts across the political divide and many civil society leaders and opposition politicians have also joined their former rival Mahathir, who was Malaysia’s premier for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, and largely credited for the country’s fast growing economy.
The Citizens’ Declaration has three main demands including removal of Najib as Prime Minister, the repeal of laws that violate fundamental rights and the restoration of institutions whose integrity has been undermined under the current regime.
It has attracted the unlikeliest of allies including opposition DAP party adviser lim Kit Siang, who was detained under the Internal Security Act during Mahathir’s tenure, PKR party deputy president Azmin Ali and Amanah president Mohamed Sabu.
Earlier on Monday, Mahathir, 90, had quit the ruling Umno party, saying he could no longer stay in Umno because the party had turned into an organisation dedicated to supporting the scandal-plagued Najib.