A group of Umno vice-division chiefs are calling for heads to roll following the signing of the controversial Citizens' Declaration last week.

1Malaysia Umno Vice Division Chiefs' Club chairperson Mohamad Anuar Mohammad Yunus said they want the party's supreme council to consider a crackdown on those who are not on the same page as the party leadership.

“ Anyone from among Umno's ranks and leadership who agrees, allies and cooperates with the 'Save Malaysia' movement is akin to being a part of a machinery that is for Umno's and BN's demise and against a Malay-Muslim leadership in Malaysia.

“ Umno must cleanse its struggle of such rebellious elements,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, amid cheers of 'Long live Umno' and 'Long live Najib'.

In particular, Anuar called for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be sacked from his posts in government-linked companies, namely his chairperson's post in the Perdana Leadership Foundation and his posts as adviser to Petronas and Proton.

Also on the club's hit list are the suspended Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhirz Mahathir and Umno veteran Sanusi Junid.

The launch of the Citizens' Declaration was masterminded by Mahathir, and involved former rivals such as himself, Muhyidddin and former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik on one end, and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa, and PKR vice- president Tian Chua on the other.

Also on board are representatives from civil society groups such as Bersih's coalition chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Among others, the declaration calls for Prime Minister's Najib Abdul Razak's removal from office through non-violent and legal means, and for institutional reforms to take place.

However, Anuar accused the movement of attempting to depose the prime minister through unconstitutional means and condemn the involvement of current and former Umno leaders who signed the declaration.

He said the group is not confident that the likes of Mahathir and Muhyiddin can champion Umno's interests, adding that instead the movement will 'sink and drown' amid the 'perverse ideologies' held by its other members.

These include those whom he claimed had fought for freedom to become apostates, rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT), and the abolition of syariah criminal law and special rights of Malays, he said.

“ We will not be fooled by the declaration claiming that its goal is merely to remove Najib as prime minister of Malaysia.

“ In contrast, we are fully aware that the majority of the declaration's movers aim to topple Umno- BN from continuing as the legitimate Malaysian government that is for the people, by the people, and of the people,” he said.

He also handed a memorandum supporting Najib and condemning the involvement of Umno leaders in the declaration to a representative of Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Anuar claimed that although only about 80 division vice-chiefs are present today, all 191 members of the club have agreed on the contents of the memorandum.

Asked whether this includes the division vice-chiefs of Pagoh and Semporna, he said they did not say anything in the club's whatsApp group.

Use proper channels

However, he said all members of the group had either voice support or kept quiet, and no one had raised any objection.

The Pagoh division is led by Muhyiddin who is among the Citizens' Declaration's signatories, while the Semporna division is headed by the Umno dissident Mohd Shafee Apdal, who did not sign the declaration but had voiced support of it.

To another question whether the calls for a purge means Umno would only allow 'yes-men' in the party, Anuar denied this.

He stressed that grievances can still be raised even if they are aimed at the party president, but they must be aired only through the proper channels and platform.

“ No. You can speak up, but on the right stage – the proper channels.

“ If it (the grievance) is in the branch committee, it can be raised in the branch committee. If it is in the division committee, then raise it in the division committee.

“ The same goes for the state liaison committees and the supreme council. There are places where it is allowed,” he said.