Activist Hishamuddin Rais has urged the public to take to the streets and " kepong (surround)" Parliament in response to the 1MDB controversy.

In his speech during a lawmakers meeting at Parliament today, Hishamuddin said Putrajaya now has a stranglehold on key public institutions, such as Parliament, which was impeding reforms.

This, said Hishamuddin ( photo ), can be seen in the refusal of the authorities to provide a room for the MPs to hold a meeting today, prompting them to do it outdoors at Parliament square.

"If we cannot even enter Parliament, how can we defeat them through elections?

"People know about 1MDB. The question is what is our responsibility? I suggest a people's movement be established and surround Parliament," he told the MPs.

Yesterday, electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 announced that they will organise the fourth Bersih rally if no answers are forthcoming from the prime minister over the investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

'Not their bosses'

Its chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah also urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Raza k to vacate all his government posts temporarily while authorities probe a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report that billions of 1MDB's funds had been pumped into his personal accounts.

At the gathering in Parliament today. student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim  ( photo ) said PKR, DAP and PAS should forget the past and focus on the future.

He said the opposition parties need to be more inclusive with the people and not act like they were the boss of the voters

"We want those who sit here (Parliament) to have a sense of responsibility in carrying the people's aspirations.

"Include other NGO leaders, they have the right too. You are only their representatives, not their bosses," he said.

Meanwhile, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke did not rule out the possibility of a massive rally being called, saying the government could not ignore the massive voices relating to 1MDB.

"Najib should either take leave or relinquish his position," he said adding that if the PM failed to do so, the party might consider a rally against him.

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