Malaysia in second day of protests against PM Najib Razak


BBC
30th August 2015

Tens of thousands of Malaysians are expected to protest for a second day in Kuala Lumpur, calling for PM Najib Razak to quit over a financial scandal.
On Saturday, crowds were undeterred by a heavy presence of police who had called the protests illegal.

Protesters are angered by a $700m (£455m) payment made to Mr Razak’s bank account from unnamed foreign donors.

He has denied any wrongdoing. He said protesters were tarnishing Malaysia’s image.

Police estimated 25,000 people participated in Saturday’s demonstration, while Bersih – the pro-democracy group behind the rally – said 200,000 took part at the peak.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance late on Saturday, telling the cheering protesters to “carry on”. He has backed the calls for Mr Najib to quit.

The crowd thinned in the evening, but many slept out on the street in readiness for the second day.

The rally was scheduled to last until midnight on Sunday.

“Those who wear this yellow attire… they want to discredit our good name, scribble black coal on Malaysia’s face to the outside world,” national news agency Bernama quoted Mr Najib as saying.

The main accusation against the prime minister is that he took $700m from the indebted 1MDB, which he established in 2009 to try to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub.

Cabinet ministers have said the money transfers were “political donations” from unidentified Middle Eastern sources, and that there was nothing improper. No further details have been given.

  1. #1 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 3:37 pm

    Najib’s respond that “only 20,000” people showed up and that “the rest” supports him(them) is perhaps the greatest TRIUMPH of the Bersih rally because its proves HE HAS NO CLUE WHAT HE IS DOING..

    Fact is even if you estimate that only 30% participants are Malays, most Malays just undecided, and only a minority is on his(their) side.

    BUT it does not matter, the fact is what Bersih is ABOUT THE FUTURE whether they like it or not. The old way is dying and the current regime DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THE FUTURE. The supposedly those who are still “with him/them” are simply just wrong..

    Its one thing for a minority of ordinary Malays to have no clue what to do for the future, its quite another when their all-powerfull leaders have no clue what to do..THEY ARE DOOMED…

  2. #2 by boh-liao on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 8:25 pm

    HISTORY created, MANY LIES exposed, LOTs of fear n threat smashed 2 pieces

    THANK U very much, AhCheatKor n UmnoB, 4 creating dis platform 2 unite rakyat, 2 expose all d lies against rakyat

    ACK still in his WET DREAM, STARK NAKED with his non-existent new clothes

    Ai say man, he ash, NO C coffin, NO tears

    Ppl all over d world could C how WELL Bersih 4 was organised, many logistics taken care of, participants boisterous but disciplined

    Still, there r papers dat tried 2 tell lies n turn dis in2 a RACIAL issue n encourage Malays 2 fear/hate Chinese

    Utter rubbish!

    Did d same papers report about d presence of MMK n Mrs?

    R they controlled by DAP?

    Rakyat – WAKE UP – dis nation CANNOT move forward peacefully as a united nation as LONG as corrupt Umno/BN remain in power, promoting RACIAL tension/division & abusing all agencies 4 their survival

  3. #3 by ds2 on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 9:37 pm

    Hoping for extended Bersih.

  4. #4 by Rose on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 11:07 pm

    Please discipline Sarawak DAP for not adhering to Bersih 4 rules!

  5. #5 by boh-liao on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 11:31 pm

    SALUTE 2 d lady leaders of BERSIH
    Thank U

  6. #6 by boh-liao on Sunday, 30 August 2015 - 11:43 pm

    RAIN or shine, d patriots were there
    Even MMK impressed

  7. #7 by yhsiew on Monday, 31 August 2015 - 7:18 am

    Dr M said street demonstrations are the answer when the government does not care about the law – I fully agree with him.

  8. #8 by boh-liao on Monday, 31 August 2015 - 7:56 am

    “I am empowering the police to take action.”
    Gomen has 2 build more cells 2 lock up every1 in yellow Bersih 4 T-shirts

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