A group of young volunteers, which calls itself ‘Mahathirisme’, today submitted 10,000 signatures for the Citizens’ Declaration to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Selangor Perkasa chief Abu Bakar Yahya, who accompanied the group, said the volunteers had collected the signatures without any payment – all for the people and country’s interests.

Also doing it out of their love for Mahathir, the group had gone to stalls, night markets, supermarkets and even to festivities to obtain the signatures.

“They wanted to use the submission (of the signatures) for memory’s sake, they wanted to submit the signatures to Mahathir themselves,” Abu Bakar told reporters after the submission at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.

Speaking further on behalf of the group, Abu Bakar said it will continue its efforts of obtaining more signatures even though one million signatures had already been obtained.

Abu Bakar said Mahathirisme only managed to submit 10,000 signatures from mostly Selangor due to the time constraints.

“We only got to know yesterday that Mahathir could meet them today, so we couldn't collect the signatures properly,” he said.

Mahathirisme member Mohd Fahmi Huzairi from Mentakab, Pahang, said apart from collecting signatures, the group also wants the rakyat to be brave in signing the declaration.

“Be brave in giving your full name and identity card number because we want to submit the signatures to the Conference of Rulers in a transparent manner,” he said.

Fellow Mahathirisme member Hakim Nordin from Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, also urged the people to exercise their rights by signing the declaration.

“Don't be afraid, this has nothing to do with politics, this is your right as the rakyat,” he said.

Apart from Mahathirisme, Umno rebel group Gerakan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia (GKCM), too, submitted its share of signatures to Mahathir today.

GKCM leader Mohd Said Midon said they managed to submit only 3,500 signatures although the group had collectively obtained 100,000 signatures from all over the country.

“Right now, we don't know the numbers from Johor, Malacca, Perak, Penang and Kedah.

“Although we have achieved our target, Mahathir said we should continue as this is the only way for the rakyat to ask (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) to step down,” he said.

The Citizens’ Declaration was initiated by a group of eminent leaders, including Mahathir, in March.

Seeking one million signatures from the public, the group aims to present them to the Conference of Rulers to remove Najib as prime minister.