Citizens' Declaration may backfire, says Fitch research house

BMI Research, a Fitch Group research house, said this was because the second clause of the declaration, which was signed by 58 signatories including former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, calls for the removal of those who worked with Najib.

"While the first clause of the declaration states that the 'undersigned citizens of Malaysia agree to support the removal of Najib as PM of Malaysia through non-violent and legally permissible means' is unsurprising, the second clause calling for 'the removal of all those who have acted in concert with him', is unlikely to resound with Umno.

"Instead, the party will view the statement as an attack on Umno and we believe that this could mark the turning point within the disunited party and convince undecided grassroots leaders to support Najib," The Malay Mail Online quoted BMI Research as saying in a statement today.

"The announcement and signing of the Citizen’s Declaration on March 4 does not present considerable risks to Prime Minister Najib Razak's grip on power.

"Instead, the declaration has likely strengthened the United Malays National Organisation's (Umno) resolve and will prompt it to close ranks instead and rally behind party president Najib," the statement reportedly said.

Among those who signed the declaration included former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and former Selangor Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

As for Oppositions leaders, they included DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang, Selangor MB Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, and PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar.