Malaysia’s Mahathir leads cross-party push to oust Prime Minister Najib Razak

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad, opposition leaders and some ruling party members on Friday called for the removal of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a scandal surrounding state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“It’s not about joining the opposition or any group. It’s about citizens joining together to show support,” said Mahathir, reading from a memorandum agreed by 58 signatories.

He was speaking at a joint news conference attended by opposition politicians, anti-government activists and Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked as deputy prime minister last year after he openly questioned Najib on the 1MDB scandal.

READ MORE: Malaysia’s former PM Mahathir quits ruling UMNO party, protesting corruption

The “core” group’s agreement also called for the removal of people who covered up misdeeds, the repeal of laws that violate fundamental rights and the restoration of institutions it said had been undermined, including the police and anti-graft agency.

Najib has faced sustained pressure to resign since the middle of last year over 1MDB and deposits into his private accounts worth around US$680 million.

Najib has maintained that he has not used the funds for personal gain, and has since been cleared of any criminal offence or corruption.

Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving leader and now 90 years old, was once Najib’s but has become his fiercest critic and – because of his enduring popularity – a thorn in the side for the prime minister.