Citizens' Declaration: Action against UMNO members yet to be discussed

Action against UMNO members who signed a citizens' declaration to support the move to oust Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the Prime Minister has yet to be discussed, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO vice president, said the UMNO Supreme Council also had not discussed whether there was a need to hold an emergency meeting on the matter.

"We never talk about it," he told reporters after opening the Perak UMNO branches and Perak Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri movements simultaneously here today.

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On Friday, former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir were among 50 people who signed a citizens' declaration to support a move to topple Najib, led by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Ahmad Zahid also denied Mukhriz's allegation that the declaration was not aimed at toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN) government but to replace Najib with another prime minister.

He reiterated that the declaration could jeopardise the country as the prime minister is the leader appointed to lead the government.

"This is not about individuals but institutions that become the top leadership which forms the government, and, if this is violated, it will jeopardise the whole country.

"The leader represents the institution, so in this case all parties whether in the current leadership or not does not need to understand this principle," he said.

However, Ahmad Zahid said attempts to oust Najib through the declaration had a silver lining; other UMNO members will be even more motivated to defend the party and its leader.

In doing this, he said UMNO leaders and members at the grassroots must be united in facing all challenges, and doing it by finding faults with someone.

"We are not perfect or indispensable but we have morals and manners. We respect past leaders and cover up their mistakes as we do not want to embarrass them because humiliating someone is not in the teachings of Islam," he added.