Demanding that Najib Razak be removed as prime minister, the signatories sought government reforms and a solution to the 1MDB and RM2.6b donation issues.
PETALING JAYA: The gathering of influential individuals referred to by Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a strange group of concerned citizens today signed a declaration to save the nation by first wanting to remove Najib Razak as prime minister.
Besides demanding that Najib be removed from his position, the declaration signed by, among others, former Premier Mahathir and 57 other signatories also touched on freedom of speech and a free media.
The main points of the declaration were:
- The removal of Najib Razak as the prime minister of Malaysia through non-violent and legally permissible means;
- The removal of all those who have acted in concert with him;
- A repeal of all recent laws and agreements that violate the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, and;
- A restoration of the integrity of the institutions that have been undermined, such as the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara and the Public Accounts Committee.
The declaration included several key reasons for the demands:
- Concern over the deteriorating political, economic and social situation in the country;
- Damage done to the country under the premiership of Najib Razak;
- Malaysia becoming one of the 10 most corrupt countries in the world, according to Ernst and Young in their Asia Pacific Fraud Survey Report Series 2013. The 2015 Corruption Perception Index showed Malaysia had dropped four places from 50 to 54; and,
- Allocations to all ministries and public institutions, including universities, have been reduced because of shortage of funds. Even when allocations are budgeted for, no money was available.
“A former Umno vice-head of the Batu Kawan Umno Division had made a police report on the loss of large sums of money by 1MDB. No investigations were carried out by the police. Instead, he was interrogated by the police, detained and charged under the anti-terrorist law (Sosma) for sabotage of the Malaysian economy,” the declaration read.
The declaration also touched on the removal of the previous Attorney-General, Abdul Gani Patail.
Before the task force was able to finish its work, the AG was removed by Najib claiming that he was sick and could not continue to work. Basically, Najib had misinformed the King to have the AG replaced.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was basically paralysed by Najib removing its chairman and members to prevent its investigation into 1MDB.
The new AG also dismissed another report by the MACC. The contents of the report were not revealed and threats were made against revealing its contents.
It also claimed that the current AG had without valid explanation dismissed the recommendations of the two institutions that possess the powers and expertise to investigate the wrongdoings.
“The AG claims that part of the RM2.6 billion has been returned to the donor or donors. Apart from this statement, no proof has been provided.”
The declaration also stated that the people were suffering as a result of Najib’s introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and increases in toll rates that have raised the cost of living.
This had forced some businesses to close down and also caused foreign-owned industries to relocate to other countries, creating unemployment.
Despite protests by the people, Najib also joined the US-sponsored Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which erodes Malaysia’s freedom to make policies and laws suitable for its people.
“Today, Malaysia’s image is badly tarnished. Apart from being classified as one of the 10 most corrupt countries, Malaysia is now regarded as undemocratic.
“There is denial of freedom of speech and freedom of the press and people live in fear of arrest and detention.
“Other repressive laws are used to stifle free speech and legitimate comment about wrongdoings. The fundamental rights enshrined under the Federal Constitution have become meaningless,” it read.
Among the notable signatories included:
- Mahathir’s wife Dr Siti Hasmah,
- Former Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik,
- Former Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasssin,
- DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang,
- Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali,
- Amanah President Mohamed Sabu,
- PAS Election Director Mustafa Ali,
- Former Umno minister Zaid Ibrahim,
- PAS MP Mahfuz Omar,
- Former MBs Muhammad Muhammad Taib of Selangor and Ahmad Said of Terengganu,
- PKR MPs Kamaruddin Jaafar and Tian Chua,
- DAP’s Anthony Loke and Teresa Kok.
-FMT NEWS-
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