This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34093338
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Malaysia braces for major protests against PM Najib Razak | Malaysia braces for major protests against PM Najib Razak |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of Malaysians are gathering to protest in the capital Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere, calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down over a financial scandal. | Thousands of Malaysians are gathering to protest in the capital Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere, calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down over a financial scandal. |
| He has faced public anger over a $700m (£455m) payment made to his bank account from unnamed foreign donors. | He has faced public anger over a $700m (£455m) payment made to his bank account from unnamed foreign donors. |
| It was discovered last month during a probe into alleged mismanagement at the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). | It was discovered last month during a probe into alleged mismanagement at the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). |
| Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing. | Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing. |
| Saturday's rally is expected to continue into Sunday and the pro-democracy group Bersih has also called for protests in the cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on the Malaysian side of Borneo. | Saturday's rally is expected to continue into Sunday and the pro-democracy group Bersih has also called for protests in the cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on the Malaysian side of Borneo. |
| Kuala Lumpur authorities have rejected the group's application for a permit to protest and Malaysian police have declared the rallies illegal. | Kuala Lumpur authorities have rejected the group's application for a permit to protest and Malaysian police have declared the rallies illegal. |
| Security is tight and eyes will be focused on any possible army intervention. | Security is tight and eyes will be focused on any possible army intervention. |
| At the last big rally in 2012, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters. | At the last big rally in 2012, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters. |
| Why Malaysians are disillusioned with Najib Razak | |
| Rehearsals will take place this weekend for the former British colony's 58th anniversary of self-rule. | Rehearsals will take place this weekend for the former British colony's 58th anniversary of self-rule. |
| Mr Najib said in a statement on his blog he did not want a "provocation" to be triggered. | Mr Najib said in a statement on his blog he did not want a "provocation" to be triggered. |
| He said: "Whatever the disagreements or misunderstandings between us, national day should not be a stage of political disputes." | He said: "Whatever the disagreements or misunderstandings between us, national day should not be a stage of political disputes." |
| Significant support | Significant support |
| The main accusation against Mr Najib is that he took $700m from the indebted 1MDB, which he established in 2009 to try to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub. | The main accusation against Mr Najib is that he took $700m from the indebted 1MDB, which he established in 2009 to try to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub. |
| Cabinet ministers have said the money transfers were "political donations" from unidentified Middle Eastern sources, and that there was nothing improper. No further details have been given. | Cabinet ministers have said the money transfers were "political donations" from unidentified Middle Eastern sources, and that there was nothing improper. No further details have been given. |
| 1MDB has said it has never given money to the prime minister and called the accusations "unsubstantiated". | 1MDB has said it has never given money to the prime minister and called the accusations "unsubstantiated". |
| But among the prime minister's critics, former leader Mahathir Mohamad said this week he did not believe the money was a donation and called again for Mr Najib to resign. | But among the prime minister's critics, former leader Mahathir Mohamad said this week he did not believe the money was a donation and called again for Mr Najib to resign. |
| The prime minister retains significant support from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and from within his party, the United Malays National Organisation. | The prime minister retains significant support from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and from within his party, the United Malays National Organisation. |
| At the start of the month there were protests after authorities suspended two newspapers and blocked access to a website that had reported on the 1MDB controversy. | At the start of the month there were protests after authorities suspended two newspapers and blocked access to a website that had reported on the 1MDB controversy. |
| What is 1MDB? | What is 1MDB? |
| • The 1Malaysia Development Berhad state investment fund was established under Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009 to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy. | • The 1Malaysia Development Berhad state investment fund was established under Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009 to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy. |
| • Critics say the fund overpaid for many of its investments and spent millions on fees to investment bank Goldman Sachs | • Critics say the fund overpaid for many of its investments and spent millions on fees to investment bank Goldman Sachs |
| • It began attracting attention at the end of 2014 when it started missing payments to creditors. It later emerged that the fund was mired in $11bn (£7bn) of debt. | • It began attracting attention at the end of 2014 when it started missing payments to creditors. It later emerged that the fund was mired in $11bn (£7bn) of debt. |
| • Mr Najib has been accused of taking $700m from the fund - a charge which he has denied. | • Mr Najib has been accused of taking $700m from the fund - a charge which he has denied. |
| • Malaysia anti-corruption commission said it had verified that the money was a donation from unnamed foreign donors. | • Malaysia anti-corruption commission said it had verified that the money was a donation from unnamed foreign donors. |
| Read more: 1MDB, the case that's riveting Malaysia | |