Last week, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his allies inked a declaration with their political foes and NGO leaders who had been critical of them in the past.

The binding factor being the removal of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In response to this, a campaign has been initiated to defend the prime minister and is gaining traction online.

Called "#RespectMyPM”, there are posters which exhort supporters to stand in solidarity with Najib in the face of these attacks.

Among others, the posters include the Jalur Gemilang with the words "I am Malaysian and I...#RespectMyPM".

There are also flags of all states, which allow supporters from the different states to share the posters.

Mahathir and the 57 signatories, including former deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin, have accused the prime minister of causing profound damage to the nation.

Najib has repeatedly denied the corruption allegations against him, and blamed them on those conspiring to engineer his downfall.

Dubbed the ' Citizens' Declaration ', it has garnered mixed responses on whether it is case of political opportunism.

Numerous Umno and BN leaders have also condemned Mahathir's action of collaborating with opposition figures such as Lim Kit Siang.

Soon after the declaration was inked, BN strategic communications director Abdul Rahman Dahlan said that by working with those who sought the destruction of Umno, Mahathir has now become a foe as well.

Meanwhile, there are also calls within Umno for Muhyiddin and Mahathir's son, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz, to be axed from the party. The latter also inked the declaration.

Mahathir had recently quit Umno in protest against Najib's leadership.