Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is only interested in getting rid of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, not in true reform, veteran activists say.

"Mahathir's reform is only on Najib, not the system.

"We want to change the system to a pro-rakyat pure democracy," Otai Reformis chairperson Saari Sungib told Malaysiakini.

Saari ( photo ) was responding to remarks by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim today that Mahathir wants change more than reformists do.

Saari's remarks were echoed by fellow Otai Reformis activist Ronnie Liu.

"Mahathir works hard to bring down Najib, no doubt about it. But his agenda is different from that of reformists.

"Mahathir has a personal agenda," Liu said when contacted.

He added that reformists also want a change of government, while Mahathir still insists on the BN ruling Malaysia.

Meanwhile, another Otai Reformis member, S Jayathas, told Malaysiakini that the reformist movement began because Mahathir was a menace.

"All the mess we are in today is because of what Mahathir did when he was the prime minister and today we see the fruits of his achievements," Jayathas said.

He added that if Mahathir was serious about change, he should engage with Pakatan Harapan.

Saari said Otai Reformis would discuss, later this week, whether or not to join the anti-Najib rally Zaid and Mahathir plan to hold on March 27.