TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur - Tens of thousands joined a peaceful protest in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak, bringing to the streets a political crisis over a multi-million-dollar payment made to an account under his name.

The Malaysian leader, who has denied wrongdoing, has weathered weeks of attacks since it was reported that investigators probing the management of debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) had discovered the unexplained transfer of more than $600 million.

Protesters hope to spark a people's power movement forcing Najib out, but political analysts doubt he will be toppled.

Security was tight and several anti-riot trucks and a water cannon were parked near a central square where protesters had planned to converge. In the end, they hung back behind barricades.

Pro-democracy organisation Bersih, which organised the two-day rally in Kuala Lumpur and the two main cities on Malaysia's side of Borneo, said the crowd in the capital swelled to 200,000 at its peak. The Malaysiakini news portal put the number at half that and police said it was just 25,000.

There were no reports of violence and the mood was festive as protesters with "Out, Najib, Out" placards blew plastic horns and shouted "bersih!", a Malay word for "clean".

"We the Malaysians want to clean up this country, we reject dirty politics," said Tinagar Veranogan, a demonstrator in a crowd of predominantly young people who were mostly from the ethnic Indian and Chinese minority communities.

City authorities rejected an application by Bersih for a protest permit, raising fears of a repeat of a 2012 rally when police used water cannon and teargas to disperse protesters.

The government blocked access to Bersih's website and banned wearing of its signature yellow T-shirts, although the crowd of protesters was a sea of yellow.

"For 58 years people have been patient with bribes, a political system that cannot resolve 1MDB. Today we want reform," said Bersih leader Maria Chin, calling on parliament to hold a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister.

The second day of the rally is due to start on Sunday with physical exercises, mass at a cathedral and interfaith prayers.

REUTERS