KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 — Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng said today he is willing to put the past behind in order to work with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, despite being detained during the Ops Lalang crackdown back when the latter was prime minister.

Commenting on the Save Malaysia movement, which sees politicians across the divide working together with the former prime minister to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Lim said Malaysia was more important than holding on to personal vengeance or grudges.

“When we have this save Malaysia movement, as an alternative to break the stalemate, we must take it and consider it seriously for the national interest, not because we want to take personal vengeance.

“I think that should be put behind, it is not easy. Something that we have struggled also, is not easy. But it is something that we have to address if we really love our country,” he told reporters in a press conference today.

“We agree on the Save Malaysia narrative. We agree on that national narrative. If we want to talk about our personal feelings, our personal sufferings, that narrative will never begin.

“So are we bigger than our own ourselves, are we bigger than our country? That is a question that we must ask. If we feel that we are bigger than our country, there is nothing to talk,” Lim explained.

The Bagan MP also said the movement had some problems that they were ironing out between themselves for the good of the nation, including trusting Dr Mahathir.

“We are not talking about trust, we are talking about a basic narrative. Let's work on this first before trust

“We start on this basis first. Trust takes time to build. I'm not going to say that there are no problems, there will be. But what is the alternative?” Lim questioned.

Dr Mahathir led a delegation of politicians and activists last week to sign a “Citizens’ Declaration” that called for the replacement of Najib as prime minister and a change of his government.

The declaration also expressed concern over the controversies surrounding state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad and the RM2.6 billion deposited in Najib’s personal accounts.

It carried over 40 signatures comprising BN veterans, opposition politicians and civil society leaders.

On Wednesday, backers of the anti-Najib initiative held a meeting where they agreed to name their group the “Save Malaysia” movement. They also decided to start a nationwide signature drive this month in Johor, Kedah, Sabah and Terengganu, states that have seen dissent within Umno against the current administration.

Apart from Dr Mahathir, prominent signatories of the “Citizens’ Declaration” include former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin who comes from Johor and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who comes from Sabah, has also expressed support for the Citizens’ Declaration although he has yet to sign it.