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Malaysia braces for pro-democracy protests amid crackdown on dissent

A major demonstration is slated to occur on Saturday in the Southeast Asian nation, whose prime minister is accused of financial scandals.

First Look

A major pro-democracy and anti-corruption protest is set to take place in the capital of Malaysia on Saturday, a response to what critics see as an increasingly authoritarian government.

The protesters call for the resignation of the nation鈥檚 prime minister, Najib Razak, who is under investigation for financial scandals involving a national wealth. But Mr. Razak has denied all allegations, and has drawn criticism聽for cracking down on media, civil society organizations, and opposing politicians who question his innocence.

鈥淣ajib鈥檚 latest crackdown on the freedom of the press is all about trying to in the government-controlled print media, TV, and radio,鈥� Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch told Time. 鈥淓vidently, the government鈥檚 idea is: if we can鈥檛 stop opposition party members and civil society activists from saying things they don鈥檛 like, we can make it harder for people to hear them.鈥�

Malaysia, a developing country that burst into the global economy in the 1990s, was seen as one of the Asian miracles that heralded economic and democratic progress in the region. But some are worried that the country is failing to uphold democratic principles as politicians hold onto power and prohibit dissent 鈥� a concern that spills over to its neighboring countries facing similar challenges.

鈥淎t the end of the day, it鈥檚 the people鈥檚 power聽that will create change,鈥� Maria Chin Abdullah, the chairperson of the protest coalition,聽told Time. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not here to fight the government 鈥� this is not about a war. This is exerting our fundamental right to speak out.鈥�

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, called 鈥淏ersih,鈥� is led by several civil society groups. Saturday鈥檚 demonstration will be their fourth rally since 2007, with the 2015 event seeing a , according to police estimates reported by the Associated Press. A counter-rally supporting the government is expected to demonstrate on the same day.

Investigations into the wealth fund, called 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), were initiated over claims that Razak had embezzled and laundered its funds. The US Justice Department launched the under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative in July, seeking recovery of more than $1 billion in assets connected to the fund.

In the weeks leading up to the planned demonstrations, a Malaysian opposition publication was expected to be charged with claim is 鈥渙ffensive in nature.鈥� An opposition politician was in jail earlier this week for publicly disclosing an audit investigating the national wealth fund. The protest organizers鈥� office wasthat the protesters plan to 鈥渢opple the government and the prime minister.鈥�

鈥淲e have seen this [uprising] happening in many countries. Even the so-called Arab Spring was heralded as an era of change, but instead in the countries concerned,鈥� Mr. Razak said in response to the planned protest, as reported by regional publication Benar News. 鈥淭he best time is to decide when the time comes. There will be an election and people can make their choice and we will abide by the decision of the rakyat [people]. And that鈥檚 important.鈥�

This occurs as Malaysia's neighbors are also struggling to define democracy amid power struggles. Hong Kong, for instance, recently saw massive protests over China's interference into its legislative processes; Thailand saw a military coup in 2014 that overthrew an unpopular but democratically elected government; Myanmar鈥檚 Aung San Suu Kyi, whose election was credited with ending decades-long military rule, is now being聽 the strong military powers and staying silent on human rights abuses in Rakhine.

Mr. Robertson, who has been outspoken in his opposition toward Razak and other leaders in Southeast Asia, expressed concern about the state of human rights in the region, especially with the United States鈥� potentially weakening role as a watchdog.

鈥淭he clearest beneficiaries from a [Donald] Trump presidency may well be in Asia,鈥� he told regional publication Southeast Asia Globe, 鈥渞anging from Cambodian and Malaysian Prime Ministers Hun Sen and Najib Razak, to Philippine President Duterte, and even North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, who have all expressed their support because they think Donald Trump will toss out the practice of making human rights concerns a core element of US foreign policy.鈥�