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Dr Mahathir hints Umno MPs to move no-confidence vote against Najib

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today there were several Umno lawmakers planning to move a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. He, however, said he did not know who would table the vote against the embattled prime minister, who has been asked to resign from his position amid allegations of corruption. "I heard that they (Umno MPs) will hold a vote of no-confidence. I don't know who will do it," the former prime minister told reporters at Central Market, where he went there to visit the Bersih 4 rally. "Najib will not resign. If they want a vote of no-confidence to work, the Umno MPs, who are loyal to the party, have to support it. Then only can Najib's government fall." Dr Mahathir today also urged Umno lawmakers to support the vote of no-confidence against Najib, telling constituents to warn their MPs to do so or risk losing votes in the next general election. "I ask Umno MPs to be ready (with a vote of no-confidence). I look at the demonstrations against the Guatemalan president, they protested everyday but he never stepped down. "Tell your MPs, if they do not support it, we will not vote for you. Now it is the job of the people to ensure the country is run without corruption.” Dr Mahathir, who was making his second appearance at the Bersih 4 rally, said he knew that Umno supporters were told not to join the people's movement but despite that, there were many Malays at the gathering. "Some might even be from Umno," he said. "Change must come from within Umno itself. But a lot of them have been bought." Continuing his tirade against Najib, who has refused to heed calls to step down, Malaysia's longest serving prime minister said Najib did not love the country, as shown by his actions. "He is the one who does not love the country. We give him power to be the PM. He could use the power to develop the country. He is behaving like AP (approved permit) peddlers.” This comes after Najib criticised Bersih 4 rally organisers and participants, saying they were "shallow and poor" in their patriotism and love for the country. Despite this, Bersih organisers say that some 300,000 people are currently at the rally, more than the 100,000 who attended yesterday. – August 30, 2015.