PUTRAJAYA:The 1Malaysia Umno Division Deputy Chiefs' Club calls on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno leaders who have strayed to atone and return to the party.
The club's president Datuk Norizan Ali said these leaders' actions had created negative perceptions about the country's stability.
"What they are doing is against the laws, principles and struggles, the very same things that Dr Mahathir and the other leaders involved have sworn to uphold before.
"We are disappointed by the actions of Dr Mahathir and other leaders like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who work with the opposition to topple the government and oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by signing the (Mahathir-Lim Kit Siang) declaration.
"All 191 deputy division chiefs give our solidarity to fully support the current leadership under party president Najib and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he told reporters at a special press conference here today.
Norizan's deputy Datuk Seri Ab Hamid Mohd Nazahar, who is also Kuantan Umno deputy division chief, said the club threw full support behind the party president as what had been done for Dr Mahathir when the latter was being attacked.
"Previously when Dr Mahathir was the prime minister and the party president, we all have decided to defend him when he was being attacked.
"It is the same deal today. When Najib is being attacked, we feel that Umno and BN are also being assaulted.
"Thus, it is necessary for every one, from the grassroot level to the party's machinery, to combine their efforts to ensure the party's might is at its highest level possible," he said.
Dr Mahathir was reported to have joined forces with key political figures and civil society leaders to initiate the 37-point declaration, demanding the removal of Najib, four days after he had left Umno.