Former PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar has confirmed that a meeting will be held tomorrow between several opposition leaders and Dr Mahathir Mohamad to sign a declaration seeking the removal of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The Pokok Sena MP, however, said he would not be representing PAS at the meeting, and would instead come as a Malaysian citizen concerned about the “debaucheries” of the prime minister.
“The declaration will be signed by Malaysians from various backgrounds and parties to demand that Najib step down from the country’s leadership,” he told Malaysiakini .
“I will still join in signing the declaration even though PAS has stated that it will not be involved in this.”
Mahfuz said the meeting will be held around 3.30pm tomorrow at the Persatuan Alumni Universiti Malaya clubhouse.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub also confirmed the meeting, but said that he was not in the know with regard to the other details surrounding the event.
“I was invited to attend the event but we don’t know about the other details. There’s an invitation, so I’ll just go and see what happens,” he said.
PAS to meet council of rulers
Meanwhile, admitting that PAS had received an invitation by Mahathir to attend the event tomorrow, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, however, said the party has decided not to participate in the programme.
This is because PAS has its own approach and movement in changing the country’s leadership – which should be done democratically and constitutionally, he said.
Acknowledging the country’s worsening political, economic, and social scenario, Takiyuddin said the party has decided to meet the council of rulers to suggest that a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) be formed to investigate matters pertaining to 1MDB and SRC International, as well as the RM2.6 billion scandal.
“PAS also demands that Parliament be dissolved to make way for a general election by returning the mandate to the rakyat to replace the federal government that has been implicated in all kinds of scandals.”
In a related development, Malaysiakini understands that DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang will also be present at the joint press conference.
When contacted, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke declined to confirm or deny whether the party will be present at the high profile meeting.
"You will know tomorrow," he told Malaysiakini .
However, Lim later confirmed to Malaysiakini about his presence.
"Yes, I will be there. But all in individual personal capacities and not just confined to opposition individuals," he said.
Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli also confirmed that he will be present.
"I will be going because Mahathir has extended an invitation for me to sign the declaration in my personal capacity for the role that I played in (airing out problems in) 1MDB," he said when contacted.
Malaysiakini understands that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali will also be there to represent his party.
