Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) affirmed today that it will stand with any movement that will work towards saving Malaysia and restoring its dignity.

The party’s stand comes after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit Umno yesterday, in protest against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Citing the scandals plaguing Najib, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said at a press conference today the country’s current situation demanded that everybody does his or her best to restore the country’s “dignity”.

Widely known as Mat Sabu, he said, “Amanah is with any movement that rejects corruption and abuse of power and we also urge thorough reforms to the country’s institutions by changing the current government, using democratic means."

Asked whether Amanah would work together with Mahathir, Mat Sabu said the party is ready to work with any quarter.

He also confirmed that Pakatan Harapan would have its presidential meeting next week, at which he is confident that all the leaders would cooperate for the sake of the country’s interests.

“(Pakatan Harapan) will make its stand next week, InsyaAllah,” he said.

Asked whether the opposition coalition had invited Mahathir ( photo ) to join them, Mat Sabu said there has yet to be such a proposition.

“It’s up to him. You must ask Mahathir,” he said.

He said programmes for working together with Mahathir would be announced by Mahathir and would then be discussed together.

“We have yet to be given a schedule, other than the general statement that we are together with any effort to return the rakyat’s confidence."

Roadshows to raise rakyat's awareness

Apart from making a stand together, Mat Sabu confirmed that they would also take to roadshows – if Mahathir was willing – to raise the rakyat’s awareness.

As to whether Mahathir’s decision to quit Umno would have any effects on the party, he said it was still too early to tell.

Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that any “disturbance” would have an effect on the rakyat.

“We will ‘incite’ the rakyat to reject the BN government. We will incite them systematically and earnestly,” Mat Sabu said in his usual witty manner.

He is also of the opinion that the majority of the Umno members were now in a dilemma.

“Based on our meetings with them, individually, they will be together with us on the wave of the rakyat’s rise to change the leadership in the next general election,” Mat Sabu said.

Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who was also present, was asked about the meeting he had with Mahathir yesterday, prior to Mahathir announcing his resignation from Umno.

“Hatta Ramli, Siti Mariah Mahmud, Hanipa Maidin and I were at the meeting as Amanah parliamentarians.

“There was no serious discussion, apart from us accepting the call to fix the country’s problems.

“As MPs, we felt this is something that needs attention, that's all. Nothing more than that,” he said.

Mahathir said yesterday the Amanah MPs as well as PKR’s Tian Chua had discussed and agreed on a common ground - which was to get rid of Najib.

The nonagenarian had also proposed the setting-up of a core group to coordinate the fight against the prime minister.