Malaysia’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance on Saturday among tens of thousands protesting to demand the resignation of the prime minister over a multi-million-dollar payment into an account under his name.
The rally in Kuala Lumpur brought into the streets a political crisis that has raged since reports in July that investigators probing the management of debt-laden state fund 1MDB had discovered the transfer of more than $600 million.
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who denies wrongdoing, has weathered the storm and political analysts doubt the two-day rally will force him out of power.
However, the brief evening appearance of the deeply respected 90-year-old Mahathir, once Najib’s patron and now his fiercest critic, thrilled the protesters and could add momentum to their anti-government movement.
Security was tight and anti-riot trucks and a water cannon were parked near a square where protesters had planned to converge. In the end, they hung back behind barricades.
Pro-democracy organisation Bersih, organised the rally in Kuala Lumpur and the two main cities on Malaysia’s side of Borneo-worldbulletin.
