Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's formula to remove Najib Abdul Razak as prime minister has been met with a combination of caution, reluctance and outright rejection.

This comes after Mahathir said BN MPs would only be willing to join forces with the opposition to oust Najib if the opposition accepts that the new government will still comprise purely of BN parties.

PAS' Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad described the proposal as "odd", as those who supported the no-confidence vote should be included in the new government.

"It would be meaningless for us just to do a vote of no-confidence to get Najib out and after that, BN just carries on like business as usual.

"It will be very odd, since half of the BN MPs will unlikely be part of it (no-confidence vote)," Khalid ( photo ) told Malaysiakini .

However, he added, the option was still better than letting Najib carry on, albeit its impracticality.

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli took a softer stance, stating that it was only natural for Mahathir to want to preserve the BN government.

However, Rafizi stressed that any change should not be limited to the personal level but include institutional reforms.

"I'm sure he (Mahathir) also understands that we have to conform to a set of reform agendas, because that’s the mandate we have from the public.

"If there is a plan to replace Najib by way of a vote of no-confidence, (the new prime minister) must be able to convince PKR - and I'm sure other parties, and the public - that he or she will conform to a set of reform agendas which will restore our institution, rule of law, which will eradicate corruption," he said.

Find win-win solution

Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, added that on a personal note, he believed there is no need to be dogmatic about personalities and parties as the rakyat should take priority.

"We must be able to work it out, for a win-win solution for everyone.

"I would like to take it positively, as it is Mahathir’s acknowledgment and tacit admission that the next confederation to save Malaysia cannot (happen) without the opposition prominently featured in it," he said.

As for DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, he outright rejected Mahathir's proposal to remove Najib and keep BN.

"It will be old wine in new bottle; there is a root (of the problems) in BN. Najib is not responsible alone for the current situation, which was caused by Mahathir when he struck out all the institutions when he helmed (the government).

"Umno is rotten and there is no hope for another leadership (from the BN) to fix it," Pua said.

If BN wanted Najib out, he added, the prime minister should resign on his own accord.

Reporting by Alyaa Azhar, Adrian Wong, and Lu Wei Hoong.

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