Shahidan: Wrong to say Umno unaffected by Declaration

He says Umno leaders must explain current political struggles to return party to its former strength.

KUALA LUMPUR: To say Umno is not affected by former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Citizens’ Declaration is inaccurate, says Umno Supreme Council member Shahidan Kassim.

The declaration, signed by various political leaders and social activists, called for the ousting of Prime Minister Najib Razak and institutional reforms.

Among the signatories were suspended Umno Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin and Vice-President Mohd Shafie Apdal, former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

To return the party to its former strength, Shahidan said Umno’s top leadership needed to make it its responsibility to explain the current political struggles to the public.

“To say that Umno is not affected is incorrect. It will surely have an impact. We have to explain to the public that the best way to change the leadership is through the democratic process, through Parliament or the Umno general assembly.

“The only ones who can decide the prime minister’s rise or fall is Parliament,” he said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby here today.