Bersih calls for August rallies in 3 states to demand PM Najib’s resignation

KUALA LUMPUR — Bersih on today (July 29) announced its fourth street rally will be held across three cities on Aug 29 and Aug 30. The Malaysian electoral-reform group called for protesters to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak, and for institutional reforms to be implemented.

Bersih called for rallies to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah that weekend.

In the past, Bersih, or the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, has organised protests that led to tens of thousands of Malaysians taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement, Bersih said: “The time has come for Malaysians to come forward to demand for Prime Minister Najib Razak’s resignation and a host of institutional reforms to put an end to prime-ministerial corruptions since Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s time.

“All Malaysians are now paying a huge price for the scandal of 1MDB among other incidences of corruption, leakages and mismanagement.”

Mr Najib has been accused of financially mismanaging state investment firm 1Malaysia Developbment Berhad (1MDB), which has raked up billions of ringgit of debt. Reports have also claimed that some US$700 million was channelled into Mr Najib’s personal bank accounts through 1MDB-linked entities.

Probes have been launched into the allegations and Mr Najib has dismissed the claims at attempts to undermine his credibility. CHANNEL NEWSASIA