About 100 people from various affiliations came together to express their displeasure with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to protest the Citizens’ Declaration by the Save Malaysia group led by Mahathir.

Speakers at the event at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night said Pakatan Harapan leaders were being used by Umno through the declaration. Most also rue that Mahathir is leading the gang, saying the fourth PM who served for more than two decades, is unfit.

"We don't need Mahathir to remove (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) and Umno. Najib will go away from natural causes eventually.

"They don't want to get rid of Umno. Mukhriz said they want to change Najib but not Umno or BN, so Pakatan Harapan is being used so that Umno can continue ruling," thundered Otai Reformis working secretary Abdul Razak Ismail.

His sentiments seemed to be shared by almost all speakers, with the crowd cheering throughout the various speeches.

Some of the speakers also criticised the fact that the rakyat were not consulted before the leaders announced and signed the Citizens’ Declaration.

"I want to thank PSM for pointing out that (the leaders) made their own decision (to sign the Citizens' Declaration) without consulting their members," said Otai Reformis chairperson and Parti Amanah Negara’s Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Saari Sungib.

Kogila from Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) echoed him, saying that despite her great respect for Bersih, she questioned why the electoral watchdog was doing their roadshow on the Citizens’ Declaration after it has already been signed, and not before.

"You don't have any respect for the people. We are not that stupid.

"If BN makes a decision without consulting the rakyat, we criticise them, but we must do the same thing to the (opposition) leaders who signed the declaration.

"Why no consultation? Why (Bersih) now only want to do roadshow? Why not before the declaration? I have such respect for Bersih but why? Don't think we are stupid, we put you there" she asked.

Most of the speakers vented their frustration, but activist Haris Ibrahim said that they must set aside emotions and think about this strategically.

‘Glaring flaws within’

He said that when he read the declaration, he found there were some glaring flaws within.

The declaration seeks the removal of Najib as prime minister, but who will replace him once that has been achieved, he questioned.

Secondly, the declaration also seeks institutional reforms, but the most important thing to reform must be the judiciary system, he insisted.

However, he said, the Citizen's Declaration was done because the rakyat had remained silent all this time.

"We sit here and we criticise them, but we don't do anything. It is up to us to incite the rakyat to rise up. Only the rakyat can save the country.

"Politicians want power, rakyat want change. That's the difference. They are not going to give us the change unless we are the driving force," he said.

He also warned that Mahathir has not reformed as he had not learned from his past mistakes, by constantly denying the abuses under his tenure as prime minister.

"If (National Human Rights Association) Ambiga Sreenevasan, (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang or (Amanah chairperson) Mohamad Sabu was leading the Citizens’ Declaration, I can accept this, but if Mahathir is leading it, it is impossible for me to support this," he insisted.

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chairperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin also stressed that the gathering of like-minded people last night was not a coalition, but rather a platform for people to express their opinions.

This is especially important, he said, in light of the fact that leaders are now using the rakyat's name without actually getting their opinions.

Forty five notable individuals, including Mahathir’s political foes and NGO leaders critical of his leadership, inked the declaration on March 4.

The declaration seeks the removal of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the reform of key institutions and agencies.

The prime minister has denied the corruption allegations against him, and blamed them on those attempting to engineer his downfall.