Malaysian reform group office raided ahead of rally, 2 held

Mahathir’s participation in Bersih’s 1MDB demonstrations – he also showed up past year – underlines how the scandal has upended Malaysian politics. As many as 200,000 people showed up a year ago at one point.

Women’s rights activist Ivy Josiah said the arrests showed the government felt “rattled” by the planned rally.

Eleven activists and opposition leaders were arrested on Friday and at least two more were detained at the rally. State news agency Bernama said about 7,000 policemen will be on duty near the protest area.

The head of the electoral reform group that organized the rally – Bersih – was unable to take part after being arrested Friday with several other supporters. “We no longer live under democracy, but a kleptocracy — a nation ruled by thieves”.

Malaysia is “facing a state of panic”, former Prime Minister Mahathir, wearing Bersih’s signature yellow T-shirt, said in a video posted online.

Some of the money is alleged to have been used to set up a Hollywood production company led by Najib’s stepson that made, among other films, “The Wolf of Wall Street” – a story of financial corruption.

In an nearly two-minute video posted online on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has been campaigning to oust Najib, said the country was “in a state of panic” over the scandal.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak met the US-APEC Business Coalition here this morning to kick off his working visit to the South American country for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Share with Us – We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism. We are not here to tear down the government, were here to strengthen it, Bersih deputy chair Shahrul Aman Shaari told the crowds gathered at the National Mosque.

“Our country is being governed by clowns and crooks”.

Mahathir was Malaysia’s Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003 and oversaw a brutal repression of opposition protests during his time in power.

“Their movement is deceitful”.

His plane touched down at the Subang airport at about 12.30pm before he headed to join the Bersih 5 rally, according to his aide Sufi Yusof.

Malaysia has been seized for more than a year by the 1MDB scandal, which has sparked investigations in several countries.

Najib has been at the centre of a corruption scandal since July 2015.

Bersih says on Twitter that its chairwoman Maria Chin and another official have been taken by police. “Whether anything happens or not, it doesn’t matter”, Dr Mahathir said. “Her Sosma detention is clearly made in bad faith & not intended by Parliament”. A new party – Bersatu – has been formed by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to target Umno’s support base. But the Red Shirts, a rightwing group aligned to Najib and his ruling United Malays National Organisation, has vowed to confront protesters.

Malaysia witnessed massive protests on Saturday, 19 November, by an anti-government yellow army and a pro-government red brigade. Despite threats of confrontation, the Red Shirts were kept away from the Bersih supporters most of the time.