Former prisons chief denies signing anti-Najib declaration

Malay Consultative Council (MPM) integrity bureau chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zaman Khan Rahim Khan has strongly denied signing a declaration supporting the ouster of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister. He expressed shock when he found his name listed among those who had signed the declaration, which was aired in the media. "I deny as strongly as possible, to say I am on the side of those who signed the declaration and will march to oppose the government. I am not involved," he told Bernama today. The former Prisons Department director-general was met at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre where he had been undergoing treatment for internal bleeding since Monday. Commenting further, Zaman, 73, said he was told his name was listed in the declaration by Malay supremacy party, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali. Zaman said he met Ibrahim who visited him at the hospital several days ago. But, he said, they only talked about his health problem and did not touch on the issue of supporting Najib's ouster. Yesterday, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad headed a group of more than 50 people, including Lim Kit Siang of DAP and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali of PKR, in signing a declaration supporting the ouster of Najib as prime minister. Other signatories included former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik. Zaman did not turn up yesterday, but his name was mentioned by the emcee as among those who supported the declaration. Among those who did not attend but endorsed the declaration are Tun Daim Zainuddin, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP, Tony Pua. – Bernama, March 5, 2016.]]>