Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's involvement in the signing of the Citizens' Declaration yesterday evoked scepticism among the audience at a forum in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The forum was organised by DAP to discuss the issue of media freedom following the blocking of The Malaysian Insider 's website, but some members of the audience took the opportunity in the forum's question-and-answer session to express their views about the former premier.

One expressed distrust towards working with Mahathir and said the new leadership line-up should be untainted, while another urged panellist Abdul Kadir Jasin to tell Mahathir to apologise for his past transgressions.

However, each of the three panellists who addressed the questions urged the people to put past differences aside for the sake of Malaysia's future.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang reiterated his statement earlier yesterday urging all Malaysians to rise above all else to save Malaysia.

He added that ideally, Malaysia would be able to have a fresh start with a new team but in reality, they would have to make do with what they have.

He said Mahathir cannot exonerate himself from his past, but Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is a bigger problem.

“ We need to muster whatever resources that we can. There are certain realities that we have to face.

“ We are not denying the past. We are not saying that certain responsibilities can be exonerated.

“ But more important than all that is to move on; to move on into the future in order to save the future from becoming a window to our past,” he said.

Echo chamber

Meanwhile, lawyer Syahredzan Johan reminded that a forum such as the one taking place is ultimately an echo chamber of people who are already convinced of the need to reform.

In contrast, Mahathir can reach out to a different audience.

“ So if he says that there is something wrong with the country, people listen. You cannot run away from that.

“ You want real change? This is politics; put aside your higher aspirations. You want to change the country? This is what we have to do.

“ You can deal with the so-called 'devil'. Yes. But at the end of the day, you make sure that your principles remain true,” he said.

As for Abdul Kadir, who was the New Straits Times chief editor during Mahathir's reign, he promised to convey the demand for an apology to Mahathir.

However, he too urged for the past be set aside for the sake of Malaysia's future, lest Malaysia becomes like Togo where the country has been ruled by the same family as president since 1967.

“ Let us save this country first; then when we have saved the country, we deal with Mahathir proper. Do we have an agreement?” he said to an applauding audience.

Other speakers at the forum were Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, and Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

The editor of the banned whistleblower site Sarawak Report Clare Rewcastle Brown also made an appearance via video conferencing.

Earlier that day, Mahathir had headed a press conference together with his former rivals, civil society groups, and ousted BN leaders to outline and sign a 37-point declaration .

Among others, it calls for Najib to be removed from office and for reforms to be implemented.

Ironically, Mahathir was sharing the table with many groups that have long accused him of undermining the institutions that needed reform in the first place.

Mahathir and his former opponents have brushed aside such concerns, preferring for the group to focus on common concerns - Najib's ouster and subsequent reforms.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office dismissed the declaration as an act of desperation, and told the group to wait for the next general elections instead, which is due by mid-2018.