A group of 148 pro-Najib Umno division chiefs have urged the police to put a halt to any roadshows or illegal rallies against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

This followed the Citizens’ Declaration signed last week between opposition leaders, civil society members, and several current and former BN leaders.

“We the division chiefs of Umno urge the government and the police to take stern action and stop any roadshows and illegal rallies that would be held by any party especially the opposition for the purpose of poisoning and inciting the minds of the people into demonstrating in the streets, and any effort to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak through undemocratic means,” said the group’s spokesperson Mohd Yusof Kassim.

He was speaking to reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, following a meeting of Umno division chiefs which lasted for about two hours.

The group also voiced “strong and undivided” support towards Najib, and condemned the current and former BN leaders involved in the declaration, particularly former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

They had singled out Mahathir for working with the opposition in masterminding the Citizens' Declaration in a bid to topple Najib, whom they pointed out is a democratically elected prime minister.

“It is clearly against the practice and system of democracy in the country, without regard for its impact and implications of his actions on the people and the country.

“We urge the government to take stern action and enforce all laws against those who threaten the country's administration,” said Mohd Yusof, in reading out the group's joint declaration.

They condemned Muhyiddin and Mukhriz for joining Mahathir in the effort, and want them sacked from the party.

Only three ‘did not support’

Echoing a similar call by the Umno division vice chiefs' club on March 8, they urged the Umno supreme council and disciplinary board to take action against any Umno member who is involved in the Citizens' Declaration or collaborates with the opposition.

They also urged the government to sack any such leaders from BN or Umno from postings in government-linked corporations.

Mahathir was removed from his post as adviser to Petronas yesterday, but is still Proton's adviser, and head of the Perdana Leadership Foundation.

Speaking to reporters after a photo-op filled with shouts of 'Hidup Umno' and 'Hidup BN', Mohd Yusof said 148 out of 191 Umno division chiefs are present in today's meeting, who spent time going through the declaration line-by-line before approving and announcing their support.

However, he said this does not mean that only 148 Umno divisions backed this declaration, as other chiefs may have other engagements and could not show up.

Subang Umno chief Zein Isma Ismail added that only three Umno divisions - Jerlun, Pagoh, and Semporna - did not support the declaration.

These divisions are headed by Mukhriz, Muhyiddin, and Mohd Shafie Apdal respectively, he said, and insisted that the group has overwhelming support.

Even Shafie's younger brother, Silam Umno division chief Mohd Yusof Apdal, is present today, said Zein.

Shafie was among the few Umno leaders who spoke out against Najib amid the 1MDB scandal, and was subsequently removed from the cabinet as rural and regional development minister.