Citizens' Declaration and Mahathir's defection
In 2016 a former prime minister left the party he had once led, signed a joint statement with his old opponents calling for the sitting prime minister's removal, and set up a new party that would eventually join the opposition coalition that won the 2018 general election.
what happened
The dispute that produced these events began inside the governing party. In January 2016 the Attorney-General announced that he had found no criminal offence by Prime Minister Najib Razak in the investigations touching SRC International and money transferred into his personal accounts, and told the anti-corruption commission to close the files. That decision did not settle the argument within UMNO. On 3 February 2016 Mukhriz Mahathir, who had criticised Najib over 1MDB, announced his resignation as Menteri Besar of Kedah after being told he had lost majority support in the state assembly.
On 29 February 2016 Mahathir Mohamad, prime minister from 1981 to 2003, announced that he was leaving UMNO, saying he was embarrassed to be associated with a party seen as supporting corruption. He said at the time that he did not plan to start a new party or join one. Four days later, on 4 March 2016, he chaired the launch of the Citizens' Declaration, a joint statement calling for Najib's removal and for political reforms. Its signatories crossed the line between the governing coalition and the opposition parties: former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir signed alongside DAP's Lim Kit Siang, Amanah's Salahuddin Ayub, PAS's Mahfuz Omar, former MCA president Ling Liong Sik, and civil society figures such as Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria Chin Abdullah. Organisers branded the campaign "Save Malaysia" and said any successor should be chosen by Parliament.
The campaign drew a police response, with at least one organiser of a supporting online petition having his statement recorded and his devices seized. It also produced a large signature count, which organisers put at 1.4 million when Mahathir handed the declaration to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Anak Bukit on 15 September 2016. That figure was a campaign count and was never independently audited. Three weeks later Mahathir told a press conference that he had put the declaration's demands to the King and had not received a positive answer; the palace made no public statement on the matter.
The government met the declaration with two separate arguments. Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said the 58 signatories did not represent 30 million Malaysians, that the country's elected representatives were its legitimate ones, and that a general election was the proper route to a change of leadership. Najib himself objected less to the criticism than to the alliance behind it, saying UMNO leaders were angry that Mahathir had chosen to work with the opposition and that signing alongside DAP was a very big mistake; whether the party would act against members who signed, he said, was for its supreme council and disciplinary committee.
The dispute inside UMNO then produced formal expulsions. In late June 2016 the party expelled Muhyiddin and Mukhriz for what it described as involvement with the opposition. Muhyiddin applied in August to register a new party, and the Registrar of Societies approved Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on 9 September 2016, with Mahathir as chairman and Muhyiddin as president. Days earlier, on 5 September, Mahathir had appeared at a Kuala Lumpur High Court hearing of Anwar Ibrahim's challenge to the National Security Council Act and shaken hands with him, their first meeting face to face since 1998. Bersatu signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakatan Harapan parties in December 2016, was accepted as the coalition's fourth component in March 2017, and by 14 July 2017 the coalition had a formal structure with Anwar as ketua umum, Mahathir as chairman and Wan Azizah as president. On 7 January 2018 Pakatan Harapan named Mahathir its candidate for prime minister, with a commitment to seek a royal pardon for Anwar.
Two things that happened later matter for reading this page. The first is that the January 2016 prosecutorial decision was not the last word: Najib was subsequently charged over SRC International, convicted in the High Court in July 2020, and had all seven convictions upheld by the Federal Court on 23 August 2022, after which the Pardons Board reduced the sentence in February 2024 without disturbing the conviction. The second is that the coalition described here did not last. Bersatu's Supreme Council voted to leave Pakatan Harapan in February 2020, the government fell, and Muhyiddin became prime minister at the head of Perikatan Nasional. Bersatu expelled Mahathir and four others in May 2020, and as at August 2026 Bersatu sits in Perikatan Nasional, not Pakatan Harapan, with PAS having ended political cooperation with it in June 2026. A reader coming to this page for the shape of today's coalitions should start from that, not from 2018.
Why any of this happened is where accounts diverge, and this page does not choose between them. Mahathir has said there was no desire for personal revenge on his part and that he acted over 1MDB. A spokesman for Najib called the declaration political opportunism and desperation and said only an election could change the leadership. Liew Chin Tong, a DAP MP and a participant in the coalition talks, credits Najib's decision not to dissolve Parliament in the first half of 2017 with giving the opposition time to reconcile. James Chin and Bridget Welsh, writing afterwards in the Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, treat the 2018 outcome, in which Barisan Nasional took 33.8 per cent of the vote and lost its majority, as a combination of social media, regional voting patterns, civil society mobilisation and weaknesses inside UMNO rather than any one person's doing.
the working
What the sources say
established
On 26 January 2016 Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali announced that he found no criminal offence by Prime Minister Najib Razak in three investigation papers relating to SRC International and funds transferred into Najib's personal accounts, and directed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to close the papers.
AG declares case closed · Malaysia's PM Najib Razak cleared of wrongdoing
established
Apandi said the evidence indicated the money came from a Saudi royal family donation of about US$681 million transferred in March–April 2013, of which about US$620 million was returned in August 2013 because it was not used.
adjudicated
The January 2016 decision was not the final legal position on SRC International. Najib was later charged, convicted in the High Court on 28 July 2020 on seven charges relating to RM42 million of SRC funds, and on 23 August 2022 a five-member Federal Court bench unanimously dismissed his final appeal and upheld all seven convictions and the 12-year sentence and RM210 million fine.
Federal Court grounds of judgment · Federal Court upholds Najib's conviction
established
In February 2024 the Federal Territories Pardons Board reduced that sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million; the conviction itself was not set aside.
Pardons Board agrees to cut Najib's jail term by half · Al Jazeera
established
Mukhriz Mahathir, son of Mahathir Mohamad, announced his resignation as Menteri Besar of Kedah on 3 February 2016, after being informed that he had lost majority support in the Kedah state legislative assembly; from 20 January 2016 nearly all Kedah UMNO MPs and assemblymen had publicly declared they had no confidence in his leadership. He had publicly criticised Najib over 1MDB.
Mukhriz Mahathir's short reign as Kedah MB · Kedah faces dark future with new MB
established
On 29 February 2016 Mahathir Mohamad announced that he was resigning from UMNO, the party he had led as president and under which he served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.
Dr Mahathir quits Umno · Mahathir quits Malaysia's ruling UMNO party
established
Mahathir gave as his reason that he was, in his words, embarrassed to be associated with a party that was seen as supporting corruption under Najib's leadership.
established
At the time of his resignation Mahathir said he did not intend to set up a new party or join an existing one.
uncertain
Mahathir publicly said on 29 February 2016 that he would not form or join another party, and later appeared as Bersatu’s chairman after its formation; no first-hand public account comprehensively explaining the change between those positions was located.
established
The Citizens' Declaration (Deklarasi Rakyat) was issued on 4 March 2016 at a press conference chaired by Mahathir, calling for Najib's removal as prime minister and for a set of political reforms.
Malaysia cross-party alliance demands removal of scandal-hit PM · 'Citizens' Declaration' now 'Save Malaysia'
established
The text called on Malaysians "irrespective of race, religion, political situation, creed or parties" to join in removing the government headed by Najib Razak.
established
Signatories spanned government and opposition camps and civil society, including Mahathir, former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Mukhriz Mahathir, DAP's Lim Kit Siang, Amanah's Salahuddin Ayub, PAS's Mahfuz Omar, former MCA president Ling Liong Sik, and activists Ambiga Sreenevasan and Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah.
established
The campaign around the declaration was branded "Save Malaysia" and organisers said it would collect signatures through online forms and roadshows in states including Johor, Kedah, Sabah and Terengganu; organisers said the choice of any successor should be for Parliament to decide.
established
Police investigated at least one organiser of an online petition supporting the declaration, activist Azrul Mohd Khalib, recording his statement and taking his phone and laptop; by April 2016 the Change.org petition had passed 51,000 signatures.
Sedition probe drove more signatures for Citizens' Declaration
established
On 15 September 2016 Mahathir had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, at Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar and handed over the Citizens' Declaration, which his office said carried 1.4 million signatures.
Mahathir hands over Citizens' Declaration to King · Mahathir: I failed to convince Agong on Citizens' Declaration
established
On 24–25 June 2016 the UMNO supreme council expelled deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir from the party; UMNO cited their involvement with the opposition as a breach of party rules. Shafie Apdal was suspended.
established
Muhyiddin applied to register Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM, later commonly called Bersatu) in August 2016, and the Registrar of Societies approved the registration on 9 September 2016.
Muhyiddin to register Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia today · Dr Mahathir's new party officially registered
established
The new party's structure placed Mahathir as chairman and Muhyiddin as president, with Muhyiddin saying the split of chairman and president roles was meant to provide checks and balances.
Free Malaysia Today · PPBM officially part of Pakatan Harapan
established
On 5 September 2016 Mahathir attended a Kuala Lumpur High Court hearing of Anwar Ibrahim's challenge to the National Security Council Act and the two men shook hands, their first face-to-face meeting since 1998.
Dr Mahathir attends Anwar's court case in Malaysia · Liew Chin Tong
established
Bersatu and the existing Pakatan Harapan parties signed a memorandum of understanding on 13 December 2016, and in March 2017 the coalition's presidential council accepted PPBM as its fourth component party alongside PKR, DAP and Amanah; the announcement was made by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu.
PPBM officially part of Pakatan Harapan · Liew Chin Tong · PPBM officially joins Pakatan Harapan
established
On 14 July 2017 Pakatan Harapan announced a formal leadership structure with Anwar Ibrahim as ketua umum (de facto leader), Mahathir as chairman, Wan Azizah as president, and Muhyiddin, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu as deputy presidents.
Pakatan Harapan announces leadership structure · Liew Chin Tong
established
On 7 January 2018 Pakatan Harapan named Mahathir as its prime ministerial candidate for the 14th general election, with Wan Azizah as deputy, and said it would seek a royal pardon for Anwar.
Dr Mahathir unanimously chosen as Pakatan Harapan PM candidate · Dr Mahathir is prime minister if Pakatan wins GE14
established
Barisan Nasional lost its parliamentary majority at the 9 May 2018 general election, taking 33.8 per cent of the vote, and Mahathir was sworn in as prime minister on 10 May 2018 at the head of Pakatan Harapan.
established
The alignment did not hold. Bersatu's Supreme Council resolved on 23 February 2020 that the party would leave Pakatan Harapan, and Bersatu formally announced its withdrawal on 24 February 2020.
Bersatu leaves Pakatan Harapan · Bersatu insists decision to leave Pakatan was made in Feb
established
The Pakatan Harapan government lost its majority and ended. Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as prime minister on 1 March 2020 at the head of a new coalition, Perikatan Nasional, formed from Bersatu, a bloc that had left PKR, UMNO, PAS and East Malaysian parties.
established
On 28 May 2020 Bersatu terminated the memberships of Mahathir, Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah, citing their having sat on the opposition benches at the 18 May 2020 parliamentary sitting. Mahathir has not been a Bersatu member since.
established
As at August 2026 Bersatu is not a Pakatan Harapan component party. PAS announced on 8 June 2026 that it had ended political cooperation with Bersatu, and Muhyiddin said the following day that Bersatu would remain in Perikatan Nasional.
Pas ends cooperation with Bersatu · Muhyiddin: Bersatu staying put in Perikatan despite PAS ending cooperation
where accounts differ
The parts nobody agrees on
contested
Mahathir's motive. Mahathir has said his opposition to Najib was not personal, writing in 2022 that "There is no desire for personal revenge on my part towards Najib," and saying he acted after the 1MDB affair and after being approached by Najib's brother Nazir.
contested
Najib's side characterised the Citizens' Declaration differently: a spokesman for Najib said the movement showed "political opportunism and desperation" and argued that only an election could change the country's leadership.
contested
The government's public argument was that the declaration lacked democratic standing. Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said on 5 March 2016 that the 58 signatories were not representative of 30 million Malaysians, that the country's legitimate representatives were the almost 800 elected members of Parliament and the state assemblies, and that those seeking a change of leadership should do so through a general election. He also said the document set out aspirations rather than solutions.
Citizens' Declaration not representative of 30 million Malaysians
contested
Najib's own stated objection was to the alliance rather than to the criticism. Speaking on 6 March 2016 he said UMNO leaders were angry and disappointed at Mahathir's decision to work with the opposition, that "what they did is a very big mistake" given the two men's long record of criticising DAP, and that any action against UMNO members who had signed was for the party's supreme council and disciplinary committee to decide.
contested
Why the Mahathir–Anwar alignment held. DAP MP Liew Chin Tong argues the coalition succeeded because Najib did not dissolve Parliament in the first half of 2017, before the opposition had reconciled the Mahathir and Anwar camps; in his account, had he done so, "Barisan would probably continue to win power." This is one participant's interpretation, offered by a member of one of the coalition parties.
contested
Whether the 2018 result should be read primarily as Mahathir's achievement or as the product of broader forces. Chin and Welsh present the outcome as a "perfect storm" of social media, regional voting patterns, civil society mobilisation and internal UMNO weaknesses, rather than a single cause.
uncertain
The exact date Bersatu became a Pakatan Harapan component. Malay Mail reported the presidential council's acceptance on 20 March 2017; Liew Chin Tong's account gives 27 March 2017.
uncertain
The total number of Citizens' Declaration signatures. Organisers claimed about 1.3 million by May 2016 and 1.4 million by September 2016, but these were campaign figures and no independent audit of the count was published.
uncertain
The outcome of the sedition investigations opened around the declaration. Reporting in April 2016 records that police took a statement from petition organiser Azrul Mohd Khalib on 21 April 2016 and seized his phone and laptop, and Human Rights Watch's October 2016 survey of Sedition Act cases in Malaysia records the same questioning without recording any charge. No prosecution arising from the declaration has been identified.
uncertain
What came of the September 2016 audience. Mahathir said publicly on 5 October 2016 that he had put the declaration's demands to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and had not received a positive answer. No statement by the palace on the matter has been located, so the only account on the record is Mahathir's own.
Mahathir: I failed to convince Agong on Citizens' Declaration