Another rally, but is Malaysia suffering 1MDB fatigue?

Malaysia’s largest civil action group Bersih 2.0, also known as the Coalition for Clean Elections, will hold its fifth national rally on November 19 calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak’s resignation over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.

But while past demonstrations have largely been well-received by activists and ordinary Malaysians critical of the Najib administration, Bersih is facing questions over its continued relevance and efficacy.

Hisommuddin Bakar, from the Illham Centre think tank, said many Malaysians were now politically fatigued by the lack of action over the scandal, which came to light last year when The Wall Street Journal revealed that money siphoned from 1MDB had ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts.

He added the public’s disinterest could dampen attendance at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur rally, and he expected only the most hardcore civil society activists and supporters of the country’s opposition parties would show up.

Bersih rallies have grown in strength since the first in 2007. The third, in 2012, attracted some 300,000 participants.

In 2015, when details of Najib’s connection to the 1MDB scandal surfaced, Bersih again brought Malaysians out into the streets for a 30-hour overnight rally.