UMNO veterans club oppose any attempt to topple Najib

Its secretary Datuk Mustapha Yaakub said 800,000 club members would stand firm behind the nation's number one leader and defend UMNO from being destroyed.

"The veterans will ensure Najib's leadership stays until the UMNO delegates decide at the election in 2018," he said in a statement here, today.

He was commenting on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's action on Friday in leading a group of over 50 people, including Lim Kit Siang of DAP and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in signing a declaration supporting the ouster of Najib as prime minister.

Other signatories included former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir and former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Mustapha said the action of the former prime minister in working with the opposition to make a declaration to topple Najib was akin to destroying the sacred institution, UMNO.

He reminded Dr Mahathir that Najib was unanimously selected in an open UMNO election without the conditions that was imposed by the former prime minister.

"As such, they will be facing the veterans. The veterans will declare war against anybody who wants to destroy UMNO. Better to be dead and buried rather than living the life of a coward without self-respect.

He also regarded Dr Mahathir's action in leading the group and allowing himself to be used by DAP as a desperate act to achieve his aim of toppling Najib.