Source: Asiancorrespondent

NEARLY a thousand Malaysians led by student protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur yesterday to demand action against an unnamed official at the center of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.

The official known only as “Malaysian Official 1” or “MO1” for short was named in a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit filed last month to seize more than $1 billion (RM4 billion) in assets allegedly bought with money siphoned from 1MDB, a state-owned firm.

The DOJ has not expressly confirmed the identity of “MO1” but the country’s opposition leaders and anti-government dissidents insist that it refers to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who oversees the fund.

Unhappy with the prime minister’s repeated denial of his alleged involvement in the scandal, student leaders rallied yesterday to pressure the authorities into taking action against the leader.

During the afternoon gathering, the group of protesters led by student representative Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof defied police orders and marched towards Dataran Merdeka or “independence square” all the while chanting “catch MO1”. Read more →

Source: The Malay Mail Online

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. Read more →

Source: The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The “Tangkap Malaysian Official 1” rally ended without any major incidents near Dataran Merdeka here.

The protesters, who had earlier marched from Masjid Negara and Sogo to Dataran Merdeka, started to disperse at about 4.40pm.

A strong police presence guarding Dataran Merdeka was still visible, as some protesters remained in the area.

Rally spokesperson Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof said the youths would not have to resort to street protests if Malaysians had stood their ground 20 years ago.

“If we, who don’t have anything to lose, don’t voice out this issue, who else is going to do it?

“Who else is going to do what it takes to have the Malaysian Official No1 arrested,” she told the rally adding that Malaysian authorities should be grateful to the people.

“If the youths of 20 years ago had done something, things would be different today, we wouldn’t be here today.

“I am not here only for my future, but for the whole of Malaysia,” she said.

The protesters included several opposition leaders, activists and students.