This is the blunt question activist and champion debater Ameera Natasha Moore asked Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyatii Samsudin following the latter’s criticism that the Citizens’ Declaration seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Najib Razak from office was an act of desperation.

In a Facebook post, the Cambridge Women’s Best Speaker said she was heartbroken that an organisation meant to inspire young women had defended the manipulation of Malaysia’s institutions.

“The act of defending such a system may have even come at the expense of your responsibility to truly empower those in need that are supposed to be under your care,” said the activist from Change Led by the Young Generation, also known as Challenger.

Ameera conceded that while Najib was elected democratically, he was no longer a figure of democracy and the institutions he led could no longer be trusted to provide the necessary checks and balances.

Ameera said, however, that she agreed with Mas Ermieyatii that a person should stand strong with principles and that was exactly what Challenger was doing by denouncing corruption and labelling as unacceptable any act of covering previous wrongdoings.

“What principles do you hold on to, if I may ask? Blind loyalty to a political party?

“Many will taint our efforts with ill words, but I can assure you, we have no hidden agenda. What you see is what you get. We just want corruption to end,” she said, calling on Mas Ermieyatii not to be complicit by remaining silent.

Last week, in criticising the Citizens’ Declaration, Mas Ermieyatii labelled the move an act of desperation. She also dismissed claims the country was facing an erosion of democratic principles.