Both Najib, Dr Mahathir unfit to be PM, say activists

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 4 Jan 2018 2:54PM · 9 Comments

A PETITION demanding Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan remove Najib Razak and Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their respective prime minister candidates for the 14th general election has been launched by a group of political activists.

The group’s spokesman, Lim Yi Hui, told The Malaysian Insight that Najib and Dr Mahathir were known to be corrupt and dictatorial, making them unfit to hold office.

“We are open to new prime minister candidates from BN and PH.

“We call on both BN and PH to remove Najib and Dr Mahathir as their candidates, as we hold them responsible for the losses of public funds, abuse of power and human rights violations during their respective administrations,” said the group, comprising 17 organisations and 107 individuals, in a statement released in three languages today.

“In our opinion, wrongdoings of national significance committed by the current and previous administrations are equally severe.

“These include 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the crackdown on Bersih rallies, the murder of Teoh Beng Hock, Bank Negara Malaysia’s forex scandal in the early 1990s, Op Lalang in 1987, Project IC and the sacking of Supreme Court judges in 1988.

“By absolving Dr Mahathir of his responsibility, PH has lost the moral authority to demand the removal and prosecution of Najib,” said the statement.

The group said the suitability of public office holders, including the posts of prime minister and cabinet ministers, should be based on their integrity and competency.

“Institutional reforms, as a preventive measure against the abuse of power by those in authority, are crucial to getting the country back on track.

“It is, therefore, of utmost importance that people of high integrity are chosen to ensure good governance in well-functioning public institutions.”

The group said it was beyond doubt that Najib’s administration was morally bankrupt, but PH, too, had lost the moral high ground by nominating Dr Mahathir as its interim prime minister candidate.

A group of political activists says Pakatan Harapan has lost the moral high ground by nominating Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its interim prime minister candidate. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 4, 2018.

The group said it believed that Najib would be a liability to BN in GE14 as he was seen as being unworthy of Malaysians’ trust.

“In any democracy, a leader implicated in a colossal financial scandal such as 1MDB would have stepped down or faced a vote of no confidence in Parliament, but this is not the case in Malaysia.”

At the same time, it said, PH’s failure to hold Dr Mahathir accountable for his past wrongdoings gave the impression that the opposition coalition cared more about winning federal power than ensuring institutional reforms to strengthen the country’s democracy were put in place.

“This political expediency certainly does not augur well for Malaysians yearning for change.”

The statement said Malaysia’s democratic struggle must not be reduced to “a competition merely between political elites for state power”.

“We encourage Malaysians to be active citizens by participating in community activism and social movements, and to be involved in the decision-making process at the community, local and national levels.

“This is because democracy is much more than just casting one’s vote at the ballot box or pinning one’s faith on individuals. It entails one’s participation in effecting real change throughout the political process.

“Most importantly, Malaysian civil society has made tremendous progress since 2008. In appealing to personality politics in a desperate attempt at a regime change instead of building on past successes, there is a strong likelihood that the hitherto achievements may go down the drain.”

The group urged like-minded citizens to send the petition to their MPs, election candidates, and BN and PH leaders in their constituencies. – January 4, 2018.

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Comments

  • IF LIM YI HUI FAILS TO NAME THE NEXT P.M. THEN MAKE LIM YI HUI AS THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER AS HIS ARTICLE HAVE NO HEAD AND TAIL CONCLUSION...

    Posted 6 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • who the hell is Lim Yi Hui????

    Posted 6 years ago by Rizwan hamsin · Reply

    • ..... isn't it obvious? ...... most likely the power crazy Azmin's paid goon ..... it's not coincidental the PH presidential council is having a meeting now to consider the proposal for PM ...... Azmin is trying his utmost to derail the Tun MM - Kak Wan team.

      Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • " ........ known to be corrupt and dictatorial, making them unfit to hold office........" - ...... this also applies to others in both BN and PH ......... for example, would the 230 (1996) million ringgit man and the deceitful Machiavellian Azmin willing to publicly declare their assets and income ...?

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Neither is Muhiyiddin, Azmin, Mukhriz, esp Hadi Awang, KJ, and really strictly speaking also Anwar. Who then?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

    • Aiyoo!!!!! the idealistic Lim Yi Hui then abo who else!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • ha ha ha..wake up ! enough of sleeping. Beautiful Malaysia needs a beautiful administration. It should be by one who has been explicitly exposed to the filth and deception that exist in the politics of tyranny. One with a forgiving heart, one who is modest and a passion to serve the rakyat without fear or favour. Everyone remembers this PM potential from the late 90s-just a teenager then. Now that Nurul Izzah is soaked enough and could be our Joan of Arc to make Beautiful Malaysia Great and the Tyrants small.

    Posted 6 years ago by Semua pun sama · Reply

    • Yes! She will be the princess of reformasi!

      Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Nurul has a pure heart for politics. I sincerely wish she becomes the premier. She can be assisted by her father and other experienced politicians.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply