Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has clarified that the opposition is not working with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad via the Citizens' Declaration, but is only acknowledging the same stand that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak must be removed from office by all legal means possible.

"The question of working with Mahathir does not arise as the purpose of the said Citizens’ Declaration is merely to formally recognise the fact that Najib has to go, a view which is commonly shared by the opposition and Dr M," he said in a statement.

Ramkarpal stressed that their stand is also for Najib's exit to be by democratic, non-violent and legally permissible ways.

He was responding to calls for him to clarify his position on the matter, as he had said in April last year that the proposal to work with Mahathir to “save Malaysia” would be an unimaginable disaster waiting to happen, and how can that reconcile with the declaration signed last Friday.

Ramkarpal reiterated that working with Mahathir would be unwise in view of the many "atrocities" committed by him during his 22-year reign as prime minister including, but not limited to, the infamous judicial crisis in 1988 which has had a major impact on our judiciary today.

He also contended that the position of the opposition has always been that not only Najib has to go, but the entire BN government as well for the many issues it has wrought in its nearly six-decade of rule.

"Only a change of government would enable the necessary reforms to be made, particularly to various institutions such as the Attorney General’s Chambers, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies which has always been the long-term goal of the opposition," concluded Ramkarpal.

Last Friday's signing, which some say was an historic declaration , saw key figures from both sides of the political divide and civil society sharing the same stage and inking the same document.

Some opposition and civil society leaders later received brickbats for working together with Mahathir who was once their sworn enemy.