Thousands Rally in Kuala Lumpur Demanding PM Anwar’s Resignation

On July 26, approximately 18,000 to 20,000 Malaysians rallied peacefully at Kuala Lumpur's Dataran Merdeka, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over alleged unfulfilled promises, rising living costs, and controversies including judicial appointments and a sexual abuse immunity bid. The protest, led by opposition parties including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was the first major anti-Anwar rally since he took office in 2022 and the first mass protest since 2018. Despite rainy conditions, demonstrators maintained public order and expressed their demands through chants, religious recitations, and peaceful conduct, with significant police presence ensuring security. Anwar, who leads a multiracial coalition with a parliamentary supermajority, dismissed the rally's impact and emphasized that a general election would be held by early 2028. Some NGOs distanced themselves from the rally, supporting institutional reforms but not a midterm government change. The event reflected growing discontent among ethnic Malay protesters and others concerned about economic challenges and governance under Anwar's administration.