Citizens' Declaration - real deal or con job?

YOURSAY | 'Even if Najib is ousted, will reforms really occur?'

Behind the scenes - how the Citizens’ Declaration was made

FellowMalaysian: The 37-point Citizens' Declaration sounded like it was done not just through former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's efforts but also incorporated the views and concerns of the opposition and civil societies.

Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah and Shamsul Abdullah of PKR have disclosed that their opinions were also included in the charter and mentioned in points 34, 35 and 36.

So it was really a joint effort with Mahathir taking the lead and collaborating with the opposition parties and civil societies working together through facilitator Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Over50ABU: There are 37 points. But acknowledgement of the issue of fundamental freedoms in the country is spelled out in paragraphs 34, 35 and 36 only. What is in the other 34 declarations? We want to see it to believe it. There is nothing binding. It is a con job.

Maria Chin and S Ambiga, after all the street protests for system change and free and fair elections, are you both very sure that what you both did will come into effect once Najib is ousted, or is this just a whitewash by the evil dictator who just wants Umno to rule forever under him?

Does this mean that the opposition will forever be the opposition and the change will come only after a long period of time. Like he always said – it took 200 years for America to change. We do not believe a manipulator like him, who keeps twisting his words.

Alunan Ombak: The target is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. As a doctor, Mahathir Mohamad has correctly found the cause in Najib and "radical treatment" is required. Who doesn't agree with the diagnosis? Hands up.

People say, "Replace Najib first. First things first!" Action first, polemics later. Rout the destroyers of the present. The present regime under Najib will sink our nation.

We cannot solve the current problems by living in the past. Give this declaration a try.

Boboi: This is an important story. It details the evolving values of the declaration before its final form. Hence, its main target is not merely Najib, but the hard reforms required to correct a failing system.

Maya: For the past few months, Mahathir has kept on condemning Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s plans for development of country and community. Why suddenly is Mahathir asking questions, five years after Najib took charge?

Is there any hidden agenda for Mahathir? Yet Mahathir also stubbornly refuses to accept or admit his own mistakes. He refuses to face reality.

He is not really interested in the welfare of Malaysians at all, not even the Malays or Umno: he only wants to save his face and to make sure that his son Mukhriz will become prime minister no matter what deals he has to execute with the current batch of Umno warlords. Ruthless and completely selfish.

Mahathir would think nothing of creating chaos just to fulfil that ambition. After all, he was willing to de-register Umno just to stay in power. Imagine what he would dare do to get Mukhriz in as Umno president. But this incessant interfering and troublemaking in Umno will be his final mistake.

Headhunter: Thanks to Malaysiakini, we are well informed on the details of the agreement. One would never be able to read such details from newspapers like Utusan, The Star or the New Straits Times.

Although Mahathir is the main initiator of the agreement and his main target is Najib, the agreement and purpose have evolved into a fight to reverse the decline of our democratic system.

On that score, Malaysians must come out in full force to support the group.

Roguekiller: No one is perfect and to err is human; only Almighty God is perfect. I have lived long enough to have experienced all the prime ministers of Malaya/Malaysia.

Indeed, I concur that Mahathir was bad during his 22-year tenure as PM. I felt the pinch as I was serving the government, but let's face facts: if you or I were the PM, wouldn't you think we would have taken all the advantages on the platter that the PM could grasp?

No doubt, Mahathir was bad, but we did not suffer as much as we do today. Najib is worse and he must be stopped.

Mahathir is relentlessly trying to right the wrongs; if I am not wrong, he could be repenting for his past deeds. As a parent, he plans the best for his children. We all do; don't we?

Anticonmen: Until the original (federal) constitution, rule of law and all checks and balances and independence of the institutions are reinstated, this declaration is just another con job.

Sontotsia: The declaration is not complete until it includes the unconditional release of Anwar Ibrahim.

Anonymous 2402521456737582: "...the agreement and purpose have evolved into a fight to reverse the decline of our democratic system. On that score, Malaysians must come out in full force to support the group". Yes. And time is running out.

"There should be coordinated and concerted efforts to share the misdeeds with the rural folk who have been, by and large, ignorant of the corruption allegations." Absolutely. The battle is not an urban one at all.

Najib's clowns: Something good must come out from this painful, but rewarding endeavour. Salute to all the participants. Are we seeing the light at the end of the tunnel? If do not try, we will never know.

Vision2020: Transform the declaration into a people's movement and action. -Mkini