KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 ― Youths, mainly college and university undergraduates at the #TangkapMO1 rally today vowed to remain persistent in what they called pursuit for justice amid the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Several students polled by Malay Mail Online today at the sidelines of the rally said they will not hesitate to take their frustration to the streets again should no action be taken against the so-called “Malaysian Official 1”.
Electrical engineering undergraduate Sharan Raj, 23, said the most important point of the rally today was to let the authorities feel the pressure from the public, especially the students.
“Malaysian authorities would have felt the pressure by now. Whether they arrest MO1 or not is another question, but this will raise more awareness.
“We will not stop until justice is served,” the final year degree student told Malay Mail Online.
Sharan was one of the few student speakers at the rally today, representing students from private universities.
Like Sharan, 22-year old Suhail Wan Azahar also put up a bold front.
“I will keep doing this until due justice is meted out. We have to defend our country no matter what. Our future is at stake here,” said Suhail, an executive council member of the University of Malaya Muslim Students Association.
Meanwhile, twin brothers who wanted to be known as Ming and Yang, Chinese Studies undergraduates at New Era College, a private institution in Kajang, said they turned up for the rally today “to reclaim their country”.
“I don't want my country to be pawned off. I want my children to have a future. I don't want my future children to ask me why didn't I do anything to safeguard their future here,” Ming, 23, said.
Organised by a coalition of student groups, the #TangkapMO1 rally was aimed at pressuring authorities to take action against the so-called “Malaysian Official 1”.
In the US Department of Justice’s civil lawsuit filed last month, “Malaysian Official 1” was identified as a high-ranking government official with authority in 1MDB, but the individual was not named.
The rally near Dataran Merdeka today ended peacefully at around 4.45pm, which also saw the attendance of civil society members and opposition lawmakers.
Despite the targetted crowd of 5,000 crowd, attendance today was estimated to be not more than 1,000.
