Malaysian reform group slams crackdown to silent dissent
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Protesters occupy a street during a rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of yellow-shirt protesters rallied Saturday in Kuala Lumpur seeking Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's resignation over a financial scandal, undeterred by a police ban and the arrest of more than a dozen activists. (AP Photo/Forest Chew) (The Associated Press)
After organizing a big anti-government rally, Malaysia's electoral reform group Bersih voiced concern over the arrest of its chairwoman under a security law meant for terrorists and the detention of more than a dozen people.
Police say 15,500 yellow-shirt protesters took to Kuala Lumpur streets Saturday for a second straight year to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over a financial scandal. Bersih estimated the crowd at 120,000.
Bersih official Wong Chin Huat says the security sweep and Chin's detention without trial was aimed at silencing dissent and was a "sign of panic" by the government. He said Sunday that lawyers have had no access to Chin since she was taken Friday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Najib, who is attending the APEC summit in Peru, says Malaysians are fed up with demonstrations.