Citizens’ Declaration was not a waste, says Zaid

The former law minister says the voice of the people had significance and it cannot be ignored.

EXCLUSIVE

PETALING JAYA: Former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim has insisted that some good came out of the Citizens’ Declaration, even if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, did not act on it.

Speaking to FMT, Zaid said the voice of the people had significance and could not be ignored.

“The Citizens’ Declaration shows that people are united about what they want.

“It shows that there are people in this country, like Dr Mahathir, who are willing to carry that message.

“It shows that people are willing to stand up for certain issues, but there are forces in the country that do not want to support it, and what can we do?”

He claimed the country was divided into people who wanted change and people who preferred the status quo, but this difference in opinion was a good thing.

“We see that there are people for change and there are people who don’t want change, and I think that is very important because can you imagine if there was only one voice? Only one system?

“People can do whatever they want and it would be disastrous.

“At least now people will understand that you cannot control other forces in the country.”

Zaid praised former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for sticking to his word that he would hand over to the King the signatures of those who supported the Declaration.

“It was not a waste. Dr Mahathir has been very frank with the people of this country and he promised them that he would deliver to the King the message, but he cannot control what the King decides.

“He tried his best and that’s how we should see it.”

Two days ago, Dr Mahathir admitted that he had failed to convince the King on the Citizens’ Declaration during an audience with him recently.

Speaking at a press conference, his first following the meeting at the Istana Anak Bukit in Kedah last month, Dr Mahathir said he spoke to the King on the demands made by the Citizens’ Declaration, which carried more than 1.4 million signatures, but “could not get a positive answer”.

The Citizens’ Declaration campaign, launched by Dr Mahathir and 40 others in March, calls for Malaysians to join in the quest to remove Najib via peaceful means.

The document, which was made available online and on hard copy, also sought institutional reforms and the repeal of laws that “violated fundamental human rights”.

The document, and the movement which initiated it, has largely been dismissed by Barisan Nasional leaders as a “futile effort” to topple a democratically-elected government.