Monday, February 29, 2016

Key political figures agree to ‘anti-Najib’ gathering, says Zaid

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's March 27 initiative is gaining momentum with participants crossing political boundaries to join efforts in demanding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation. Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, the former minister said the gathering's main demand would be for Najib to step down and is among three resolutions to be debated at the gathering held within enclosed premises. Zaid has clarified that it would not be an open rally. "The second resolution is to set up a people's tribunal that will enable the public to know the truth on 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad). "The third resolution is to determine what and where the movement is headed with its demand for change… and this is the most important," he said. He said key political players had given him their agreement for the gathering, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin and former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir. Opposition leaders who agreed were PAS's Datuk Husam Musa, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang. "This gathering transcends political party barriers," said Zaid, adding that PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had also been invited but most likely will not turn up due to the situation within PAS. Zaid also denied that there was another movement apart from his own as the initiator of the March 27 gathering.  There have been several similar calls for movements to press for Najib's resignation, such as the "Save Malaysia" movement that was launched by former PAS vice president Husam Musa in Kulai recently. Dr Mahathir, who quit Umno yesterday as a protest against Najib, also said he wanted a "core group" formed to seek the prime minister's ouster. Zaid said he said he was confident these separate efforts could be coordinated. "I do not know if I am included in the core group' mentioned by Dr Mahathir; however, I have met him and others in meetings several times," said Zaid. He said Muhyiddin who was last Friday suspended as Umno deputy president had also been involved in these meetings with Dr Mahathir and Zaid, as well as others that included leaders from Pakatan Harapan. On that note, Zaid said he planned to ignore Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for labelling him as a "confused individual". "Initially I was mulling to lodge a report on this at Dang Wangi, but after further thought, I felt there was no need to entertain him," he said. Khalid labelled Zaid "confused" to say March 27 was not a public gathering but would take place in closed premises, when on Facebook, Zaid urged Malaysians to be courageous to attend the gathering. Khalid warned Zaid of police action if the gathering spilled over to the streets. – March 1, 2016.]]>

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