Dr Mahathir Mohamad's action in conspiring with the opposition and initiating the declaration aimed to oust Najib Abdul Razak as prime minister has been seen as an attempt that will only divide the people in this country.
Professor Emeritus Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Ab Majid of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia said the move clearly contradicted the principles of parliamentary democracy practiced in Malaysia.
"This upheaval will only give excuse for outsiders to create disharmony among the people.
"Please stop pursuing personal agenda for the sake of the people, peace and unity in this country," he said when met by reporters after a scholars' dialogue at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.
Last Friday, the former prime minister led a group of over 50 people in signing the declaration.
The group included former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, Selangor menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
Meanwhile, the 1Malaysia Division Umno Deputy Chiefs Club urged the government to relieve Mahathir of all his positions in government-linked companies (GLCs).
"We urge the government to use its power over the GLCs to strip Mahathir off his posts as Perdana Leadership Foundation chairperson, Petronas adviser and Proton chairperson," said the club's chairman Muhd Anuar Mohd Yunus in a press conference today.
Muhd Anuar, who is also Temerloh Umno division deputy chief, representing some 80 1Malaysia Umno division deputy chiefs also handed a memorandum in support of Najib's leadership, to Umno office representative, Azwan Aziz, representing Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today.
Under the memorandum, they strongly condemned and rejected all forms of involvement by present and past Umno leaders in approving, supporting and signing the declaration.
He said the club also urged Umno supreme council to sack Muhyiddin, Mukhriz and Umno veteran Sanusi Junid, for signing the declaration.
- Bernama
