Kuala Lumpur – Potesters on Saturday marched in the streets in the Malaysian capital to denounce alleged massive corruption in government.
The protesters, mostly wearing black and white shirts, gathered in several areas in Kuala Lumpur under the watchful eye of government security forces.
Security forces have also declared as off limits an open park at the centre of the city where the protesters were supposed to congregate.
A police officer in the area estimated the protesters at between 500 and 1,000, but the organizers said the rally is just starting and more protesters were expected to come.
The protesters ignored police warnings to disperse as the rally has no permit and is considered illegal.
“We are here to denounce corruption in government. We want to bring to justice officials … responsible for stealing the funds at 1MDB,” elections activist Maria Chin Abdullah told protesters.
The state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has been in the limelight since last year following an expose in the media which alleged Prime Minister Najib Razak pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund.
The accusation against Najib was further heightened by a Wall Street Journal report in July last year that suggested the 673 million dollars found in his bank accounts came from 1MDB.
Najib denied any wrongdoing and an investigation by the attorney general revealed the money in the premier’s bank accounts were donations from Saudi Arabian royalty.
The attorney general cleared Najib of any criminal liability. (dpa/NAN)