Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance yesterday among tens of thousands protesting to demand the resignation of the prime minister over a multi-million-dollar payment into an account under his name. The rally in Kuala Lumpur brought into the streets a political crisis that has raged since reports in July that investigators probing the management of debt-laden state fund 1MDB had discovered the transfer of more than $600 million. Prime Minister Najib Razak, who denies wrongdoing, has weathered the storm and political analysts doubt the two-day rally will force him out of power.