A crowd of about 50 converged outside the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya today, chanting “Hidup Najib" (long live Najib) and "Tangkap Mahathir" (arrest Mahathir) in support of detained former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The group, led by Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam, lit a row of candles along the kerb, and also chanted “Undur DAP” (back off DAP).

Lokman, who heads the NGO Pemantau, had called for the solidarity rally soon after Najib was arrested at his Jalan Langgak Duta home at 3pm this afternoon.

Also present at the rally was former Special Affairs Department (Jasa) strategic communication director Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, who termed the arrest unfair when he addressed the crowd.

"Who granted the 1MDB special taskforce power to arrest Najib? Wasn't it supposed to be the MACC?

"And where are the Bar Council, Suhakam (Human Rights Commission) and other activists?"

Lokman, meanwhile, said the arrest was aimed at breaking Najib’s spirit.

"The rule of law has changed to law of the jungle. He has been cooperating with MACC. Does he need to be arrested? What's the point?

"This is to ensure he is demoralised… to make him give up. But Najib remains strong,” he said.

A team of police officers was present to monitor the gathering.

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