Mahathir, Muhyiddin have made a very big mistake: Najib

Umno views Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin's decision to work with the opposition as a very big mistake, said party president Najib Abdul Razak today.

The prime minister said the action of both the former senior leaders of Umno had also incurred the wrath and disappointment of Umno leaders and members.

"I see most of the Umno leaders, they are very angry and disappointed with Mahathir's decision to work with the opposition.

"In fact, excerpts of Mahathir's speeches have gone viral, also condemnation of Lim Kit Siang as a racist leader and a DAP chauvinist.

"Muhyiddin and Mahathir have previously condemned and criticised Kit Siang and DAP outright. Which is why Umno leaders cannot accept (this). They know what DAP's stand is all this while, so what they did is a very big mistake," he told reporters in Johor Baru today.

Najib said this in commenting on the action of the two leaders in joining forces with the opposition at a ceremony to come out with the Citizens' Declaration in the federal capital on Friday (March 4).

At the event, Muhyiddin and also former menteri besar of Kedah Mukhriz Mahathir were among 50 individuals who signed the declaration which was led by Mahathir, who quit Umno recently.

Also supporting the declaration were DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, Selangor

Menteri Besar and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Asked if action would be taken against the Umno leaders involved, Najib said: "It is up to Umno's supreme council and disciplinary committee.

"We, each leader at whatever level, is subject to the constitution and disciplinary requirements of the party."

Asked if this was a final warning for Muhyiddin, he said: "Let the MT (Umno's supreme council) decide. We believe the highest body is the supreme council."

Up to supreme council

On Kedah Umno Liaison's decision that action be taken against Muhyiddin and Mukhriz, Najib said he did not want to make the decision alone and was leaving it to the supreme council.

"I leave it to the MT. I do not want to make a decision by myself. We practise collective responsibility," said the prime minister.

Despite all this, Najib said the government will concentrate on the country's development as well as serving the rakyat (people).

"As far as we are concerned, the confidence level depends on elections. At the moment, the government will continue because we have the mandate and numbers in Parliament. The party is also behind the government," he said when asked whether he was confident that the people were still with Umno.

Earlier, Najib, who is on a one-day working visit to Johor Baru, had launched the Urban Transformation Centre at Galleria@Kotaraya. - Bernama