[7][8][9][10] Incumbent Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has denied any wrongdoing amidst the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and former premier Mahathir Mohamad has come out in support of pro Bersih campaigners.

[11] Steven Gan, an editor of an online news website Malaysiakini was charged in court under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act for the reporting of Prime Minister Najib and 1Malaysia Development Berhad, leading up to the rally.

[33] The counter-rally by the Red Shirts ended prematurely after they were unable to get past the police blockade to confront the Bersih rally-goers, with a majority of them dispersing at Padang Merbok.

[34][35] Even though the protests ended peacefully, the arrests against Bersih protestors such as People's Justice Party (Malaysia)'s Tian Chua and Zuraida Kamaruddin were conducted.

[39] Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the spate of arrests by the government of Malaysian activists as a form of intimidation and harassment against dissent.