The high-powered group that signed the Citizens' Declaration to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last week, held its first meeting yesterday to iron out details of how to move forward.

The closed-door meeting was held at the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel in Selangor and went on for about two hours, PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin told Malaysiakini .

“We discussed who will be in the secretariat and our plans on what to tell the rakyat on the Citizens' Declaration,” he said when met at Parliament today.

He said the secretariat will coordinate programmes to promote the declaration.

“I also brought up Pakatan Harapan’s proposal to go on a roadshow (to promote the declaration), and this is being discussed,” he said.

Among those in attendance were former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, PAS’ Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, PAS’ Salor assemblyperson Husam Musa, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir and former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

PKR’s Batu MP Tian Chua, who also attended the meeting, said “more than half” of the 45 people who signed the declaration last Friday were present.

“The meeting has drawn up the plan so it’s time to carry out the plan,” he said when met today.

Former Umno grassroots leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who also attended the meeting, said the meeting was “historic”.

“The spirit of unity showed by the leaders yesterday was awe-inspiring,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

“All those who signed the declaration have no political agenda. This declaration shows unity among Malaysians, and not a pact by political parties as misconstrued by Umno-BN leaders,” he said.

The group last Friday signed a declaration that called for the following:

• The removal of Najib as PM of Malaysia through non-violent and legally permissible means;
• The removal of all those who have acted in concert with him;
• A repeal of all recent laws and agreements that violate the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and undermine policy choices; and;
• Restoration of the integrity of the institutions that have been undermined, such as the police, the MACC, Bank Negara and the PAC.

Additional reporting by Zikri Kamarulzaman