Activists defend alliance with Mahathir

‘Working with the former PM is the only way to end Najib’s administration.’

(FMT) – Several notable activists have spoken in defence of their alliance with Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno rebels, saying it is the only way to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak from power.

At a town hall meeting to explain the Citizens’ Declaration last night, they asserted that all other efforts to get Najib to step down had been exhausted.

“We are in uncharted waters and this cross-party alliance is a risk, but the only way we can legitimately get Najib to step down,” said C4 Director Cynthia Gabriel.

“We’ve tried every means, including writing letters and memorandums, and we’ve even gone down to the street four times, but all efforts have been blocked,” added Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah, who characterised Najib as a “symbol of corruption.”

DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang said it was time to rise above race, religion and party politics for a common cause.

“I’m not Mahathir’s puppet and Mahathir is not mine,” he said, “but this is a time when super efforts must be made by all Malaysians to save the country.”

Activist lawyer S Ambiga spoke of the Najib administration as a “threat” to the nation.

“We’ve got to temporarily put aside our differences and acknowledge the threat that is in front of us, namely Najib,” she said.

Former Umno branch leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan said the declaration did not belong exclusively to Mahathir although it was his brainchild.

He pointed out that the text of the declaration was finalised only after Mahathir had received feedback from everyone who initially signed it. “This declaration belongs to the rakyat,” he said.