KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak played down today the estimated number of participants at this year’s on-going Bersih 2.0 organised street rallies to show dissent against his administration.
He also hit out at the organisers of Bersih 4, saying they showed no concern for the people’s welfare, especially those living in the countryside, The Star Online reported.
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
“There might have been 20,000 people at the rally, as reported by some media, but I am sure only 20,000 are a little dissatisfied. The rest of the Malaysian population are with the government,” he was quoted as saying at the national-level Felda Settlers Day celebration in the Gong Badak indoor stadium in Kuala Terengganu on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
The prime minister dismissed the number as insignificant, saying those supporting his Barisan Nasional (BN) government numbered in the hundreds of thousands as opposed to the tens of thousands that were reported to have hit the national capital last night.
“What is 20,000, we can gather hundreds of thousands. Felda settlers alone could make the numbers,” he was quoted saying further.
The Star Online also reported Najib promising the farmers that the government will be building more affordable homes costing less than RM70,000 for the second generation Felda settlers soon.
The 24-hour marathon Bersih 4 rally kicked off at 2pm yesterday in three cities nationwide: Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Kuching in Sarawak.
Tens of thousands braved the heat and the rain to pressure for institutional reforms to the economy and to the government, though their key demand this round is Najib’s resignation as prime minister over the corruption allegations linking him to his the debt-riddled 1 Malaysia Development Berhad.
Police have estimated the numbers of protesters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday at 25,000, and 4,500 more in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu respectively.
Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah however is hopeful the crowd will grow bigger and cross 300,000 people even as the countdown to the midnight deadline for the Bersih 4 rally approaches.