The Penang UMNO regretted the move by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is willing to join the opposition leaders in making a declaration to remove prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Penang UMNO Liaison chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said any move to bring down the government and prime minister elected by the people through a democratic process was totally not proper. It should be totally opposed by supporters of the UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) struggles, he said.

He said the Malaysian government was elected every five years through a democratic and independent election whereas the prime minister was appointed to represent the winning party that secured majority support in Parliament.

"The action by Tun Dr Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and other former leaders of UMNO who are willing to work together with Lim Kit Siang and the DAP leadership to topple a prime minister is most regretted and cannot be accepted by any UMNO member of sound mind," he said in a statement Friday.


READ: Tun M, Opposition leaders sign 'Citizens Declaration' seeking removal of Najib as PM

Dr Mahathir together with Muhyiddin, Mukhriz, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali were among the individuals who signed the declaration to topple Najib as the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Zainal Abidin said the state UMNO also criticised the action by Muhyiddin and Mukhriz. He said the Penang UMNO continued to give its undivided support and trust to Najib to continue to carry out his task and responsibility as UMNO president and prime minister.