Malaysian Citizens Rally Against Prime Minister Najib Razak



In August 2015, thousands of Malaysians gathered in Kuala Lumpur to rally for the ouster of Prime Minister Najib Razak.  The animosity toward Razak stems from the Malaysian general election in 2013 where it was eventually discovered that Razak embezzled nearly $700 million into his personal bank accounts.  Razak remains in office despite the calls for his ouster.

The southeast Asian country is composed of two regions that are separated by 640 miles in the South China Sea.  Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation with 13 states and three federal territories.  Malaysia is a major tourist destination.

Facts about the Federation of Malaysia:

Population: 30,513,848 (July 2015 est.)
Area: 127,355 sq. miles
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Major languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil
Major religions: Islam, Buddism, Taoism, Hinduism

Timeline:

1826: British settlements of Malacca, Penang, and Singapore unite; British begin to establish protectorates over the Malay sultanates of the peninsula.
1942 – 1945: Japanese occupation during World War II.
1957: Federation of Malaya becomes independent from British colonial rule.
2001: Malaysia and Singapore resolve long-standing disputes and both agree to build a new bridge and tunnel.
2003: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad steps down after 22 years.

Sources:
"Malaysia Rally Aims to Oust Leader," by Celine Fernandez and James Hookway. The Wall Street Journal. August 31, 2015.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html

 

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