Muhyiddin: Najib's exit will allow court to judge him

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's exit from power will allow him to be judged in a court of law, said his former deputy-turned-nemesis Muhyiddin Yassin.

"Najib's resignation will not cause the BN government to fall.

"It will allow the process of legal action to be taken against him and he will be fairly judged in court.

"Then, total institutional reforms can be carried out to create a government that is clean, transparent and trusted," he said in a media statement today.

Muhyiddin, who was suspended as Umno deputy president, was responding to criticism from within the ruling coalition over his signing of the Citizens' Declaration, which called for Najib's removal.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had investigated deposits of RM2.6 billion from an offshore account and RM42 million from state-owned company SRC International into Najib's personal bank accounts.

Najib has consistently denied abusing public funds for personal gain and blamed such allegations on those attempting to engineer his downfall.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared the premier of any wrongdoing.

The Wall Street Journal claimed the RM2.6 billion originated from entities linked to state-owned 1MDB, of which Najib is adviser but the prime minister claimed the money was a political donation from the Middle East.

Muhyiddin blasted Najib's supporters who claimed the Citizens' Declaration's call for prime minister's ouster was undemocratic.

"Instead, it is they who are undemocratic. In the latest development, information (auditor-general's final report) relating to 1MDB was placed under the Officials Secrets Act.

"Is the government led by Najib trying to hide from the rakyat about more misappropriations in relation to the 1MDB scandal?

"Is this a democratic act?" he asked.

Muhyiddin claimed Najib's supporters are afraid of the Citizens' Declaration which was first initiated by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The declaration has not only received support from eminent figures of various poliyical background but is also being supported by every section of society who have signed on to an online version of the declaration.

"More people will support the Citizens' Declaration in the near future.

"This development will surely worry Najib and the people around him," he said. -Mkini