Opposition's Support For Dr Mahathir To Oust Najib Comes With One Major Condition
Will Dr Mahathir agree to the condition?
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 04 Mar 2016, 10:35 AM
In a sudden turn of events, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has declared his support for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
"I support the position of friends in civil society, political parties, and individuals, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, and others to build up strength and common understanding together as articulated by the leader of the opposition recently.
"This understanding will focus on the demand for Najib Abdul Razak to resign as prime minister as he has clearly failed to lead this nation.
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"Therefore I urge my friends and the rakyat to stand together in this effort without limiting it with personal agendas or personal vendettas," stressed Anwar.
Anwar said Najib is responsible for selfish political acts, wreaking havoc upon administrative institutions and burdening the rakyat with continued economic crisis.
"Economic policies must be reformed to refocus on fresh economic growth combined with equitable distribution of wealth," he said.
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"We have also learned from history that meaningful transition of power cannot happen only with a change of leadership but it also demands a systemic change," he said.
“The rights of the rakyat must be returned through a free and fair elections, as well as an independent judiciary and free media.
Calling the 1MDB issue the "most severe scandal in our history", the former deputy prime minister spoke about how key institutions in the country has been damaged under PM Najib Razak's administration
While agreeing with her father's show of support for Dr Mahathir, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar also said that the opposition could only work with Dr M if he is ready to implement reforms in line with the opposition party's goals
The PKR vice president and Lembah Pantai MP was commenting on a news portal report that there would be a press conference involving Dr Mahathir Friday.
"The Opposition and Dr Mahathir only share the same agenda – to remove Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak from power," she added.
"But, this does not absolve Dr Mahathir from all his past abuses of power and wrongdoings, including huge economic miscalculations," said Izzah.
The former prime minister had previously called for the formation of a core group of like-minded individuals with the aim of removing Najib.
On Monday, 29 February, Dr Mahathir announced that he is quitting UMNO over his opposition to PM Najib Razak
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad announced on Monday (Feb 29) his intention to leave the ruling Umno party after months of criticisms of Prime Minister Najib Razak went unheeded.
He told a packed news conference that Umno was no longer what it used to be and is now "Najib's party".
"I want to leave Umno because it is no longer Umno. It is a party dedicated to supporting Najib, protecting Najib to upholding whatever he does, including some of the wrong things he has done", said Tun Dr Mahathir.
"I cannot be a member of such a party," he said, adding that his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali was also leaving the party.