‘It’s citizens’ declaration, not Dr M-Kit Siang declaration’

Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has defended the Citizens’ Declaration, saying that leaders, be it from Umno, the opposition and civil society groups, are united with the view that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak must step down immediately, and it must not be labelled as Mahathir Mohamad’s and Lim Kit Siang’s declaration.

Muhyiddin also refuted that he has become a traitor to Umno by being one of the signatories of the declaration.

“The detractors accused or call me of selling the country, a traitor and other things. I would like to say ‘No! This is the same old Muhyiddin’,” he told Malaysiakini on attacks over him and others signing the declaration on March 4.

“We have to be open to the realities in the country and we (the signatories) are thinking outside the box to resolve the bigger issues facing the country of today. We managed to get close to 50,000 signatories (up to Thursday) online and the hard copy signatures are also going on. Umno is certainly worried and is downplaying this as a gimmick and that it does not represent the people,” he added.

Muhyiddin also had some words for Umno detractors that if they think the declaration has no effect, then they should just keep quiet and not up make illogical stories.

“They should not be worried and sleep soundly or be afraid of the Citizens’ Declaration if all is all right.

“However, I believe deep in their hearts they feel threatened and are doing everything to downplay the declaration to say I am a traitor. I am not like that, I am still rational. I think Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 91 is still rational, and we thought that our actions are not wrong,” he said.

Yesterday it was reported that 1,056 Umno Pagoh delegates had en-bloc signed the Citizens’ Declaration urging Najib to step down.

‘Their efforts to divert will fail’

Correcting what the mainstream media like TV3 were calling a Mahathir-Kit Siang declaration, Muhyiddin rebuked them, saying it is wrong to say it is Mahathir’s declaration or to say it is Lim Kit Siang’s declaration.

“It has nothing to do with Lim. Ask him (Lim), did he sit together to formalise the declaration? No, he did not.

“I saw Mahathir and saw the draft which was prepared and we showed it to them (the opposition and others). There are no additions, that is the reality. Hence calling it Mahathir’s or Kit Siang’s declaration is incorrect as this was done for our joint interests. This is more important, it is for the interests of Malaysia.

“I think they are trying to divert attention and certainly there would be repercussions (by those in power) to reject, reject, reject. This is their thinking to make sure this will fail, but they would not succeed,” he added.

Muhyiddin said the Citizens’ Declaration or Save Malaysia campaign is an initiative led by Mahathir and supported by friends who think the best way for the country to move forward is to ask Najib to step down.

“Those who are with us are the opposition, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups who looked at the cause of the problems facing the country.

‘Efforts a coup’

The former deputy prime minister said the initiative by the various groups is considered a coup as who would have thought that Mahathir and Lim would be agreeable to be on the same platform, and even (former opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim is supportive.

“All are thinking along the same lines that the best way to save the country is for the present PM to step down. When I signed, when Lim signed, I knew the mainstream media would play it up. When in fact, all of us think that with regard to the country, that although they may be on the other side, we are united as they (opposition) are considered to be part of the country’s leadership.

“Hence, do not twist the news to make it false as if me walking together with (Selangor Menteri Besar) Azmin Ali is considered a big sin. Do not create fear resulting in a phobia,” he said.

Muhyiddin is quite confident that the gathering of the various key figures from Umno, the opposition, NGOs and civil society would drive the message across.

Asked whether the joint declaration would also move towards concentrating on freeing Anwar who is facing five years’ jail, Muhyiddin maintains it should be one step at a time and the focus should be on seeing Najib relinquishing the post. -Mkini