NGO questions number of signatures collected for 'Citizens' Declaration'

Non-governmental organisation Pertubuhan Gabungan Melayu Nusantara Negeri Sembilan has urged the authorities to investigate claims made by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the 'Citizens' Declaration' has been signed by 1.27 million people.

Its founder and president, Mustafa Abu Bakar expressed the hope that immediate investigations would be conducted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) especially on the signatures gathered online.

"We want the truth and want to know who is lying about the number of signatures collected," he told a media conference here Saturday.

Mustafa had brought up the matter as he was made to understand that the roadshows conducted by the former prime minister and his allies, mainly from DAP, were attended by 800 to 1,000 people.

"A statement from Pakatan Harapan secretariat informed that the number of signatures collected was 500,000, while Tun Dr Mahathir said the signatures had reached 1.27 million," he said.

Dr Mahathir reportedly said as many as 1.07 million signatures were collected online, while another 200,000 were on printed forms and 50,000 more recorded on the alternative petition website, Change.org.