Former minister Zaid Ibrahim has hit out at critics who claimed that the Save Malaysia campaign he is steering is losing steam, labelling them "anarchists" who are way off the mark in their accusations.

"Give (Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) a chance was my call to Umno members to dump Najib. Anarchists who suggested that Save Malaysia campaign losing steam are off (the mark)," Zaid tweeted today.

He explained that the article posted on his blog earlier asking for Zahid to tell his boss Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to step down was to query if the party still has conscience enough to reject leaders who have gone too far off the reservation.

He said the matter has nothing to do with whether the movement to topple Najib was losing steam or not.

"Article essentially asking if Umno has a redline that no leader can cross. The question of opposition losing steam does not arise," he added in another tweet.

Pundits are claiming that the six-week old Save Malaysia campaign spearheaded by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and backed by Zaid, is losing steam .

'Trying to find a new lifeline'

They contended that Zaid's overture to Zahid is a sign that the movement is trying to find a new lifeline and thus the reason for the back-up plan.

In his blog post yesterday, Zaid had reached out to Zahid.

"He has to tell the prime minister, in no uncertain terms, that the changeover in power has to take place as soon as the Sarawak election is done, and not a day longer.

“Zahid must put the interests of the country first, even if it means taking such a step puts himself at risk. He has to carry out this putsch."

Zaid said that Malaysians have endured the travails of 1MDB for so long and it was time for it all to end.

He added that the person many saw as responsible for the fracas can no longer be around if “we are to truly move on”.

"I agree with the prime minister that we have to move on – but we must do so without him," he said.