KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 -- A planned rally against outgoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki started slowly this afternoon, its momentum dampened by a downpour and the government's surprise announcement this morning that Azam would be replaced.

As of 2.30pm, just a dozen or so attendees, some wearing black and yellow protest colours, had gathered at the designated assembly point outside the Sogo shopping mall.

Police officers were seen moving in shortly after, dispersing the small crowd from the mall's entrance and sealing it off from public access, including from the assembled press.

The protest's turnout comes after the government unexpectedly announced this morning that Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman w...