Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sent the Citizens' Declaration calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down to the Council of Rulers ahead of the latter's meeting on October 11.

The accompanying letter also details the former premier's audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Anak Bukit, Alor Setar, Kedah on September 15, reported Sinar Harian today.

"At this point I have not received any reaction for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over our meeting.

"However since the council is meeting on October 11, I feel it is good that I send a letter to all the rulers.

"This is to inform them of our call for the Council of Rulers to act upon what is contained in the Citizens' Declaration," the Malay daily reported the former Umno veteran leader saying.

The declaration, containing the petitions of some 1.4 million signatories, calls for the prime minister to step down over the 1MDB scandal, among others.

The financial scandal that had been brewing over the past years before Mahathir quit the ruling party, hit the international spotlight when The Wall Street Journal broke news about some RM2.6 billion found in Najib's personal accounts, alleging the money was from 1MDB.

While the prime minister at the time had denied the report as slander and had threatened to sue the reputed financial daily, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in July corroborated the WSJ report when it filed a series of forfeiture suits to recover assets in the country it claims had been embezzled from 1MDB.

DR M: Rulers can act

Mahathir said the rulers and the Agong had the right under the federal constitution to handle the issue facing the country today.

"Previously it was said the rulers no longer had power. But this is untrue and that is why we are trying to get the Council of Rulers to act, because they do have power.

"For certain, as rulers, they need to consider (the people's) views on what has happened in this country," Mahathir was reported saying.

Najib meanwhile had downplayed Mahathir's royal audience, claiming the Agong had told the veteran politician the palace cannot intervene in the matter.