KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Malaysia still has a bright future if men like former leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can change his mind, prominent lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.
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
The former co-chair of polls reform group Bersih 2.0 who now leads Malaysia’s National Human Rights Society was weighing in on the 90-year-old retired prime minister’s surprise appearance at Dataran Merdeka late yesterday evening during the Bersih 4 rally in the capital city.
“He is more than welcome to join us as a citizen of Malaysia. If someone like him can change his mind, there is still a hope for this country despite all that has been going on,” Ambiga told Malay Mail Online when met on the second day of the rally downtown.
“It goes to show that anything is possible,” she added.
The civil activist said she was taken aback by Dr Mahathir’s lightning visit, but added that it was understandable given the current political climate.
Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, was notorious for clamping down on any demonstration against the government.
Umno, the anchor party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition appears to be wracked by a leadership split following disagreements over the handling of debt-riddled state investor 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The overnight Bersih 4 rally that kicked off at 2pm yesterday and is planned to last till midnight today is demanding the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has become a target for all the problems plaguing the country.
However, a number of political and economic analysts have previously said that much of the current problems besetting Malaysia did not happen overnight but was the build-up of policies during the 22-years under the Mahathir administration.
Dr Mahathir is rumoured to make a second appearance in the Bersih rally at 5pm today, at the Pasar Seni area.
Ambiga said she welcomed Dr Mahathir’s participation in Bersih 4, but added that he must agree to all of its five demands made by the organisers.
The overnight Bersih 4 rally targets to rally for 34-hours in three cities nationwide, although the demonstrations in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu ended prematurely today.
Other than calling for fair elections, Bersih 4 organisers are demanding institutional reforms to the economy and to the government to make the processes more transparent.