Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's role in drafting the Citizens' Declaration came under close scrutiny during a townhall session organised by Bersih last night.

In the second of Bersih’s sessions, this time held at the Petaling Jaya Community Centre, six signatories of the declaration went face-to-face with their critics.

A Jeyanath from Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia directly challenged panellists Hakam president Ambiga Sreenevasan and Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah to issue a public declaration that they would leave the movement if it were to be "hijacked" by Mahathir.

The civil society veteran pointed out that since the Citizens' Declaration was signed on March 4, Mahathir has not addressed the issue of institutional reforms.

Jeyanath had issued the challenge in exchange for his support, and as a means to get more signatories.

Ambiga in response replied, "I am insulted...You should know us better than that."

"I am not going to do it. If we fail you, you take us down," she said in urging for unconditional support towards taking the first step to remove Najib through collecting signatures on the Citizens' Declaration.

"Let us take it on faith, but also know that we are not naive and we are not stupid," she said, stressing that the declaration was a temporary solution for the country's problems.

The panel comprised Maria Chin, Ambiga, activist Hishamuddin Rais, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and former Umno Batu Kawan deputy division chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

‘Not up to one person’

Maria, meanwhile, said there is no single individual who could guarantee what would happen if Najib is removed.

"We only can guarantee that if we combine forces, we can make the changes," she said.

She added being the initial signatories have opened up the passage for civil society groups to discuss issues of institutional reforms with BN.

While acknowledging concerns surrounding Mahathir's role in the movement, Maria also reminded the audience that Bersih in its quest for institutional reforms had tried all means and ways, including four public rallies, to little success.

Anything But Umno (ABU) founder Haris Ibrahim also confronted the signatories over former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir's reported remark that the Citizens' Declaration was only to replace Najib with another Umno prime minister.

"How do we get on this initiative if Mahathir is leading it? If he is leading, I cannot forget that the drama is the same.

"If Najib has sacked (former deputy prime minister) Muhyiddin Yassin, (then so had) Mahathir sacked (his former deputy) Anwar Ibrahim. It’s the same drama in order to save their political careers," he said.

Hishamuddin however reminded Haris that there are differences between the language spoken by Mukhriz as a politician and that of civil society leaders.

"You must understand that he speaks a different lingo...His target audience is Umno members," said Hishamuddin, who had been detained under the Internal Security Act during Mahathir's era.

Dr M’s blighted history

Other members of the audience also raised similar concerns over Mahathir's own history during his 22-year reign as prime minister.

Recounting a meeting with Mahathir before the declaration was launched, Hishamuddin quipped he nearly choked in surprised when Mahathir referenced the movement in Egypt on "how to topple a dictator".

"Mahathir said, 'I used to do a lot of wrong things, but I know when to stop. These people do a lot of wrongs, but they don't know when to stop," recounted Hishamuddin.

Bersih has organised a series of townhall sessions across the country to engage critics and collect signatures on the Citizens' Declaration, as part of the Save Malaysia movement.

The Save Malaysia rally is scheduled for March 27 at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.

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