PETALING JAYA: A coalition of student groups have announced a #TangkapMalaysianOfficial1 rally in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 27.

They are targeting 10,000 people for the rally, which is aimed at putting pressure on authorities to arrest and charge “Malaysian Official 1” who was named in the recent United States Department of Justice (DoJ) civil claims in relation to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Group spokesperson Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof told a press conference that the rally was open to anyone regardless of their background or political ideology.

“The issue of 1MDB is no longer a issue inside the country, but has become big news all around the world. The youth can’t take being a laughing stock of the international community any more,” she said.

Anis said they hadn’t applied for a police permit yet to hold the rally but that they would do it soon.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits last month seeking to seize dozens of properties tied to 1MDB, alleging that over $3.5bil (RM14bil) was misappropriated from the institution.

The lawsuits, filed in Los Angeles, seek to seize assets “involved in and traceable to an international conspiracy to launder money misappropriated from 1MDB”.

The lawsuits said the alleged offences were committed over a four-year period and involved multiple individuals, including Malaysian officials and their associates, who conspired to fraudulently divert billions of dollars from 1MDB.-thestar