After Kelantan, Kedah Umno unveils declaration supporting Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 ― The Kedah government today unveiled a declaration supporting party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following in the footsteps of Umno leaders in Kelantan who made a similar move last month.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah met with Najib today to submit the declaration, which declares the state’s undivided support for the prime minister’s leadership and condemns his critics, namely Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and several others.

“We condemn and are disappointed with the actions of Dr Mahathir who is willing to be in cahoots with DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara, as well as heading the 'Citizens’ Declaration' with Lim Kit Siang to call for the resignation of Najib,” the declaration prepared by the Kedah Umno state liaison committee reads.

The declaration also urged the Umno supreme council to immediate sack all Najib dissenters in the party for working together with the opposition.

It also called on Putrajaya to remove any Barisan Nasional (BN) leader found participating in any plot to unseat Najib from their positions in the party, government or in any government-linked companies.

When met later, Ahmad Bashah claimed the declaration represents the sentiments of the Kedah people towards Najib.

“We are doing this declaration with the presence of all Umno division leaders, assemblymen, Umno MPs and Umno senators including the youth, women and puteri chiefs from Kedah.

“This declaration was made to let the people know that Kedah supports the prime minister,” Ahmad Bashah told reporters outside Parliament.

Last month, Kelantan prince Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah joined several other state BN representatives in signing a document declaring their unwavering loyalty to Najib.

Pictures of the group spread online and the document was dubbed by Umno information chief and Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa as the “Kelantan Declaration”, seen as a counter to the Citizens’ Declaration mounted by Dr Mahathir against Najib.

The Citizens’ Declaration launched by the Save Malaysia movement was signed by over 40 prominent figures, including BN veterans, opposition leaders and human rights activists.

An online petition in support of the Citizens’ Declaration has also been launched to garner public support in pressuring the Royal Palace to intervene in the nation's politics.