MALAYSIAN prime minister Najib Razak's hold on to power has been weakened further after tens of thousands of protesters took to Kuala Lumpur's streets at the weekend to demand his resignation.
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance among the protesters who defied police warnings that the protests were illegal.
Frail-looking 91 year-old Dr Mahathir, who has been relentlessly leading calls for Mr Najib's resignation, told protesters their action was necessary because legitimate avenues for people to air their grievances had been shut down by the government.
"Continue, continue," he told applauding onlookers.
Often when he was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 Dr Mahathir brutally put down dissent and outlawed anti-government protests.
Mr Najib has been fighting for his political survival since leaked documents in July showed that US$700 million of unexplained money had been transferred into his private bank account.
Allegations are also swirling around state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that Mr Najib founded and oversees.
The fund is more than US$11 billion in debt.
British-educated Mr Najib denies any wrongdoing and claims the graft allegations are part of a conspiracy to topple him.
His supporters claim the money in his account came from a mysterious donor in the Middle East.
Mr Najib has weathered the political storm so far, relying on support at top levels of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), as well his rural Malay support base that has benefited from the party's largesse.
But the two-day weekend protests will stoke more fears in UMNO that Mr Najib will not be able to lead the party to success at the next elections, analysts say.
Mr Najib's coalition lost the popular vote at elections in 2013 but held on to power through a gerrymandered voting system.
UMNO is also deeply divided after 62 year-old Mr Najib sacked his deputy and other ministers who publicly questioned him, and the attorney-general who had been investigating the investment fund.
Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Center, said discontent with Mr Najib is concentrated in urban areas and a national survey this month by his group showed a slight majority opposed the protests.
The Bernama national news agency quoted Mr Najib as describing the patriotism of the protest organisers and participants as "shallow and poor."
Ahead of the protests Mr Najib's government blocked access to the website of Bersih, the group which organised the protest in Kuala Lumpur and two other Malaysian cities.
Bersih is a Malay word for "clean."
The government also banned the wearing of the group's signature yellow T-shirts but the crowd of protesters was a sea of yellow.
Bersih leader Maria Chin called on Malaysia's parliament to pass a vote of no-confidence on Mr Najib's leadership.
"For 58 years people have been patient with bribes, a political system that cannot resolve 1MDB. Today we want reform," she said.
Leading reform activist Ambiga Sreenevasan told the protesters "the masses are fed-up."
Economic problems have exacerbated public unease in the country with the ringgit currency at 17-year lows.
In a statement at the weekend Transparency International chairman Jose Ugaz said Mr Najib's government has "failed to tackle the corruption scandals it faces, and people in positions of responsibility are acting with impunity."
Mr Najib cancelled a speech he was due to make at an international anti-corruption conference in Kuala Lumpur this week.
Security was tight at the Kuala Lumpur protest but protesters held back from barricades.
A rally organised by Bersih in 2012 ended with clashes with police.
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance among the protesters who defied police warnings that the protests were illegal.
Frail-looking 91 year-old Dr Mahathir, who has been relentlessly leading calls for Mr Najib's resignation, told protesters their action was necessary because legitimate avenues for people to air their grievances had been shut down by the government.
"Continue, continue," he told applauding onlookers.
Often when he was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 Dr Mahathir brutally put down dissent and outlawed anti-government protests.
Mr Najib has been fighting for his political survival since leaked documents in July showed that US$700 million of unexplained money had been transferred into his private bank account.
Allegations are also swirling around state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that Mr Najib founded and oversees.
The fund is more than US$11 billion in debt.
British-educated Mr Najib denies any wrongdoing and claims the graft allegations are part of a conspiracy to topple him.
His supporters claim the money in his account came from a mysterious donor in the Middle East.
Mr Najib has weathered the political storm so far, relying on support at top levels of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), as well his rural Malay support base that has benefited from the party's largesse.
But the two-day weekend protests will stoke more fears in UMNO that Mr Najib will not be able to lead the party to success at the next elections, analysts say.
Mr Najib's coalition lost the popular vote at elections in 2013 but held on to power through a gerrymandered voting system.
UMNO is also deeply divided after 62 year-old Mr Najib sacked his deputy and other ministers who publicly questioned him, and the attorney-general who had been investigating the investment fund.
Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Center, said discontent with Mr Najib is concentrated in urban areas and a national survey this month by his group showed a slight majority opposed the protests.
The Bernama national news agency quoted Mr Najib as describing the patriotism of the protest organisers and participants as "shallow and poor."
Ahead of the protests Mr Najib's government blocked access to the website of Bersih, the group which organised the protest in Kuala Lumpur and two other Malaysian cities.
Bersih is a Malay word for "clean."
The government also banned the wearing of the group's signature yellow T-shirts but the crowd of protesters was a sea of yellow.
Bersih leader Maria Chin called on Malaysia's parliament to pass a vote of no-confidence on Mr Najib's leadership.
"For 58 years people have been patient with bribes, a political system that cannot resolve 1MDB. Today we want reform," she said.
Leading reform activist Ambiga Sreenevasan told the protesters "the masses are fed-up."
Economic problems have exacerbated public unease in the country with the ringgit currency at 17-year lows.
In a statement at the weekend Transparency International chairman Jose Ugaz said Mr Najib's government has "failed to tackle the corruption scandals it faces, and people in positions of responsibility are acting with impunity."
Mr Najib cancelled a speech he was due to make at an international anti-corruption conference in Kuala Lumpur this week.
Security was tight at the Kuala Lumpur protest but protesters held back from barricades.
A rally organised by Bersih in 2012 ended with clashes with police.
