It’s not difficult to say ‘I am resigning’, Dr M tells Najib

Mahathir Mohamad says Abdullah Badawi resigned although elected by the people but that Najib Razak may be a "special" case.

SHAH ALAM: Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it should not be difficult for Najib Razak to resign as prime minister because he did after 22 years as premier as did Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, after him.

Mahathir said this when delivering his speech at the People’s Congress here today.

He also said he was aware that many Umno members were unhappy with him for working with the Opposition on the Citizens’ Declaration that called for Najib’s resignation.

“That is Najib’s tactic. I attended Bersih. I supported Bersih because they wanted Najib removed (as prime minister). But the spin doctors said the Chinese wanted to topple the Malays,” he explained.

He said the spin doctors also argued that Najib was elected by the people and should not be removed until the next general election although the same did not apply to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“Pak Lah was elected by the people. He resigned. Maybe Najib is special because Rosmah (Mansor) is his wife,” he joked.

Pointing out how he too resigned as prime minister after 22 years, Mahathir added, “It is not difficult. Just say, I am resigning.”

He added that whoever took over from Najib now would know the importance of hearing the views of the people.

The last to speak at the event, Mahathir also acknowledged how members of the Opposition were no longer angry with him for putting some of them behind bars when he was premier.

“A lot of people were arrested under the ISA (Internal Security Act). They should be angry with me but they are willing to be with me on the same stage today,” he said, acknowledging the presence of Opposition members Lim Kit Siang of DAP and Mohamad Sabu of Amanah, among others sitting on stage with him.

“Why? Because they know to remove Najib is more important than anything else.

“That is why they are willing to be with me,” he said.

“I am impressed with the meeting today. No one moved from their seats despite hearing it over and over again.

“It really shows how much people love the country. It does not belong to Najib. There is no Umno anymore. There is only Najib’s Umno. Their focus now is to protect Najib. That is why I left Umno. And I am willing to work with anyone (to save Malaysia),” he said.