A supporter of pro-democracy group "Bersih" (Clean) leads a group of native people known as "orang asli", as they march to Dataran Merdeka in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur August 30, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia's PM Najib Razak has refused to resign after mass protests, and has called for national unity.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets at the weekend, urging Najib to step down over allegations he took hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds.

Najib said such protests were "not the proper channel to voice opinions in a democratic country".

He has denied pocketing $700m (£455m) of public money.

The payments, first revealed by the Wall Street Journal, came from the 1MDB state investment fund, which Najib set up on coming into office in 2009.

Najib has removed several leading officials who had criticised his handling of the scandal.

Malaysia's anti-corruption agency has effectively cleared him, saying the money was from foreign donors.

Protests show 'immaturity'

Police says about 25,000 people took part in the two-day demonstration at their peak, though Bersih [Clean] - the pro-democracy group behind the rallies - put the figure at 300,000.

Speaking in a public address to mark Malaysia's National Day, Najib said it was clear the rest of Malaysia backed the government.

Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" (Clean) carry placards depicting Prime Minister Najib Razak as they march to Dataran Merdeka in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters

"We will never allow anyone from within or from outside, [to] simply walk in and steal, ruin or destroy all that we have built so far," the state news agency Bernama quoted him as saying.

"Let us all remember, if we are not united, lose our solidarity and cohesion, all problems will not be resolved, and everything we have laboriously built will be destroyed just like that."

Supporters of pro-democracy group "Bersih" (Clean) gather near Chinatown in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters

He said protests which "disrupt public order and only inconvenience the people" did not reflect maturity and were "not the proper channel to voice opinions in a democratic country"

Najib's coalition, Barisan Nasional, has governed Malaysia since independence 58 years ago.

But its support has declined in recent elections, and its critics have accused it of arrogance.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attends a rally organised by pro-democracy group "Bersih" (Clean) in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur, August 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters

The movement against Najib has been driven by influential former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed who was also at the rally in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Mahathir, who led Malaysia from 1981-2003 and was formerly a Najib ally, said it was untenable for him to continue in his position.

A shopkeeper wearing a pro-democracy group "Bersih" (Clean) mask tends a stall at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters

"There's no more rule of law. The only way for the people to get back to the old system is for them to remove this prime minister," he said. "We must remove this prime minister."

The rally in Kuala Lumpur was deemed illegal, but was allowed to go ahead, and ended peacefully late on Sunday.

Previous rallies held by the Bersih movement have been dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannon.