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Agence France-Presse

Crowds of yellow-clad Malaysians demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak converged on central Kuala Lumpur again today, a day after tens of thousands paralysed the capital in a boisterous yet peaceful demonstration.
The two-day rally, one of Malaysia’s largest in years, has been largely incident-free despite police declaring it illegal, blocking the organisers’ website and banning their official yellow t-shirt and logo.
Thousands of bleary-eyed protesters who slept on streets near the city’s Independence Square woke today to mass exercises and a resumption of the previous day’s carnival-like mix of speeches, sing-a-longs, prayer and the ubiquitous snapping of selfies.
Watch: Thousands gather to demand Malaysian Prime Minister's resignation



Initial crowds appeared smaller than yesterday, when police said 29,000 had gathered, while the rally’s organisers – electoral-reform pressure group Bersih – said 200,000 had turned out.
The rally got a shot in the arm late Saturday when 90-year-old former premier Mahathir Mohamad made a brief appearance.
Mahathir, who did not address the crowd, has led calls for Najib’s ouster, accusing him of corruption and misgovernance.
Still a ruling-party heavyweight, Mahathir’s attendance was a surprise as he was known through his 1981-2003 rule for squashing such protests.
Read more: The US$700 million question: can Najib Razak ride out 1MDB storm?

“We are hoping to have as many people as yesterday to send the message to this government: they have been lying and stealing and bullying for far too long and the public won’t take it anymore,” said Simon Tam, a lawyer.
In Hong Kong yesterday, organisers estimated more than 1,200 people attended a protest near the Malaysian consulate in Wan Chai, in solidarity with the demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur.
The crowd, also most clad in bright yellow shirts, chanted “bersih” and called for clean and free elections.

Willson Lee, spokesman for a group called Bersih 4 Hong Kong, said Saturday's crowd was three times bigger than last year. The number 4 refers to the fourth year that the rally has happened.
“This year is even more important because after the first, second and third one, the government has only made minor amendments to our demands and because the current prime minister is involved in a scandal which is not being properly investigated.”
IT professional Roger Chong, 53, moved from Malaysia to Hong Kong 18 years ago and this was his first time attending a “Bersih Hong Kong” rally. “This one is critical,” he said, “because we need clean elections, clean politicians. To see everyone here is great because it means people are aware of the crisis.”

Bersih was first formed to press for reform of an electoral system it says is biased, propping up the ruling National Front coalition despite its flagging voter support.
Najib has been fighting for his political survival since The Wall Street Journal last month published Malaysian documents showing nearly US$700 million had been mysteriously deposited in his personal bank accounts since 2013.
His cabinet ministers call the transfers “political donations” from unidentified Middle Eastern sources, refusing to give details. The accounts have been closed and the fate of the money has not been explained.



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Malaysian protesters singing their protest song during a BERSIH (The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections) rally in Kuala Lumpur today. Photo: EPA

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attends a rally organised by pro-democracy group "Bersih" in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters

Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" gather near Dataran Mederka in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing increasing pressure over the 1MDB scandal. Photo: AP

Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" carry anti-Najib placards as they march through the capital. Photo: Reuters

Thousands of protests unveil a Bersih banner during the march on Saturday. 

Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" gather along Jalan Tun Perak in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters

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Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" carry placards depicting Prime Minister Najib Razak as they march to Dataran Mederka in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Malaysian protesters unfold a banner while marching through the city streets during a Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur pn Saturday. Photo: EPA

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Prime Minister Najib Razak is fighting allegations that he took money from the 1MDB state wealth fund. Photo: AP

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Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad has made stinging comments against current premier Najib Razak and has demanded explanations to scandals hitting the administration. Photo: AFP

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Tens of thousands took part in the rally over the 1MDB scandal in Kuala Lumpur while protesters also gathered in Hong Kong


Thousands of activists demand Malaysia's leader Najib quit in second day of protests

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tens of thousands took part in the rally over the 1MDB scandal in Kuala Lumpur while protesters also gathered in Hong Kong

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Tens of thousands took part in the rally over the 1MDB scandal in Kuala Lumpur while protesters also gathered in Hong Kong