KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he is making an appearance at the Bersih 4 rally for one thing only, and that is to join Malaysians in pressuring Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation from office.
The retired prime minister said he did not care about the other demands by the rally organiser, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0.
Protesters take a ‘selfie’ during a rally organised Bersih in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Muslim participants of the Bersih 4 rally pray near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Participants of the Bersih 4 rally cheer on as they gather in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
An aerial view of the crowd gathered at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Muslim supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih pray near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Muslim supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih lay out a Bersih banner to be used for their prayers outside Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
A Bersih supporter leads a group of Orang Asli, as they march to Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Participants brave the rain during a rally organised by pro-democracy group Bersih, near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hands over a bottle of water to his wife Tun Dr Datin Siti Hasmah after speaking to the media near Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre) speaks to reporters as he attends a rally organised by pro-democracy group Bersih near Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre) arrives at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih gather in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Participants take selfies during the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih clean up the streets in the morning outside Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
A participant is seen waving the Malaysian flag as others look on during the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih gather in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Participants take selfies with activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (centre) during the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Participants are seen taking part in activities held at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre) attends a rally organised by pro-democracy group Bersih near Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
A group of protesters on bicycles are seen at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre) speaks to the media at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks to reporters at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad smiles as he sits next to his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah after speaking to the media near Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Reuters pic
Bersih 4 rally participants brave the rain as they listen to speeches in downtown Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Participants of the Bersih 4 rally brave the rain as they shout slogans and march in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Participants of the Bersih 4 rally brave the rain as they shout slogans and march in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Prominent lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan addressing the Bersih 4 participant as it rains in Kuala Lumpur on August 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
Participants of the Bersih 4 rally run for cover as it rains in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Bersih 4 participants sit on the streets despite the haze in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Prominent lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan addressing bersih 4 participant in downtown Kuala Lumpur on August 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah (second from left) meets Dang Wangi police chief Zainol Samah during the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. —Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. —Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Bersih 4 supporters took to the streets on the second day of the pro-democracy rally in Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
Bersih 4 supporters took to the streets on the second day of the pro-democracy rally in Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar
Thousands of Bersih 4 supporters gather during the second day of the pro-democracy rally in Kuala Lumpur, August 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Supporters of the Bersih 4.0 rally perform morning exercise at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Supporters of the Bersih 4.0 rally perform morning exercise at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Supporters of the Bersih 4.0 rally perform morning exercise at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Supporters of the Bersih 4.0 rally perform morning exercise at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah (right) and Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah lead Bersih 4 participants in an early morning exercise routine on the street on Day 2 of the 34-hour rally, Aug 30, 2015. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Protesters sleep on the street during the Bersih 4.0 rally in the early hours of August 30, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Protesters sleeping on the street during the Bersih 4.0 rally in the early hours of August 30, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A protestor enjoys a late meal while others sleep on the street during the Bersih 4.0 rally in the early hours of August 30, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Protesters sleep on the street during the Bersih 4.0 rally in the early hours of August 30, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
“I just want Najib to step down,” he told reporters when approached while he was making his way around Central Market downtown.
The 90-year-old has been a vocal critic of the man whom he was seen to have once personally groomed for leadership, following the Najib administration’s handling of the debt-riddled state investment company 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Dr Mahathir like many other Malaysians at the Bersih 4 rally, blame Najib and his Cabinet for the present economic and political problems besetting the country.
“The only way to return rule of law is to remove this prime minister, and to remove him the people must show people’s power,” he said today, reiterating what he had told a public talk in Pasir Gudang, Johor yesterday to redress the power imbalance.
“We should move a motion of no confidence in Parliament,” he added.
Dr Mahathir is known to have strongly opposed public shows of dissent during his time in office from 1981 to 2003, raising many eyebrows with his latest appearance at the Bersih 4 rally for the second day in a row.
He had dropped in at Dataran Merdeka last night in a lightning visit, fresh from Johor.
“Many people ask me whether I am supporting Bersih, whether I have become a supporter of the Chinese. It’s nothing of that sort, we are here because all of us, whether Malay, Chinese or Indian or Iban or Kadazan, we cannot accept the leadership, the premiership of Datuk Seri Najib.
“Why is that so? It is because he has undermined the legal system of this country. He has dismantled the institutions of government which have been entrusted to investigate all crimes,” Dr Mahathir said.
He referred to the special four-agency government task force that was set up to investigate 1MDB, but was disbanded just days after the abrupt removal of Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as the Attorney-General last month.
Dr Mahathir also linked a flurry of transfers and promotions of senior civil servants from various government agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and elevating members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to an agenda on 1MDB.
“So we want to ask, why did you stop the investigation on your RM2.6 billion?” Dr Mahathir posed.
The RM2.6 billion question concerns cash deposits made into Najib’s personal bank accounts in the run-up to Election 2013, which the BN finally won albeit with a much reduced vote.
The MACC has since said the money was a donation from the Middle East, without disclosing the identity or the source.
Some Umno leaders have claimed the donation was to help Umno fight, variously the Islamic State terror group and the DAP opposition party backed by Jews, among others.