Cover image via Malaysiakini'Red shirts' rally mouthpiece Jamal Mohd Yunos has claimed that this year's Himpunan Merah will see a 40% Malaysian Chinese participation
"I have discussed this for nearly two weeks, so there won't be any problems and I am confident that if the rally is to go ahead, 40% of the participants would be Chinese.
"We have discussed; we have prepared. We are serious in this matter and not just fooling around," Red Shirt rally organiser, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos said this to reporters at the 'Himpunan Merah 2.0' press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), yesterday, 14 August, as reported by Malaysiakini.
Datuk Jamal Mohd Yunos at the launching of 'Himpunan Merah 2.0, yesterday, 14 August.
Image via Malaysiakini/ Koh Jun Lin
"The difference with the rally this time around is that we have an understanding between Malays, Chinese, and Indians, and this time we will come together, unlike before," said Jamal.
The first "Red Shirts" rally was held on 16 September 2015 and it saw a gathering of Malays with most holding racially-sensitive placards. The main aim of the rally was to counter Bersih 4.0 but it was instead tinged with racist remarks.
Some of the protesters from Batu Pahat arrived carrying placards that read, "Lu jangan cabar hak Melayu" (Don't challenge Malay rights), "Jangan cabar bangsa dan agama kami" (Don't challenge our race and religion) and "Bangkit Melayu Bangkit" (Rise, Malays, rise) and "Hidup Melayu" (Long Live Malays) on during the rally.
They were also seen chanting, "Hidup Melayu" (Long live Malays) while carrying banners that read "Ini Tanah Melayu" (This is Malay land) written in Jawi script.
**Aside from placards claiming to defend the Malays' dignity, there were also some that took a hit at the local Chinese community and opposition party, DAP with placards like "Cina DAP jangan kurang ajar di Malaysia" (Don't be rude in Malaysia, DAP Chinese) and "DAP pengkhianat bangsa" (DAP are traitors).**
Confident with this year's 'red shirts' rally participation, the Sungai Besar UMNO chief also claimed that 58,000 people including almost 600 local NGOs, have already pledged their support for the anti-Bersih movement
The main aim of this year's planned 'red shirts' rally is said to imitate Bersih 5's plans and actions.
Jamal assured that the "red shirts" rally would be cancelled, if Bersih 5 is called off.
"For us it is simple: If they do, we do. If they follow the law, we will follow the law. If they follow the laws of the jungle, we too would follow the laws of the jungle…
"On whether it is illegal or not, there, are rules on how a peaceful assembly should be held. If they follow the rules, we would follow the rules. If they don't follow the rules, we too (would follow suit). What's wrong with that?" asked Jamal, as reported by Malaysiakini, yesterday, 14 August.
The launching of 'Himpunan Merah 2.0' yesterday, was reportedly accompanied with loud shouts of 'Hidup Merah!' and 'Hidup Datuk Jamal!'. According to Malaysiakini, Jamal went on to say that Bersih is a "shallow-minded" coalition that has "brought nothing but hardships in its previous rallies".
**Ironically, he also said that Bersih should realise the fact that a government can only be deposed through elections and not street rallies.**
Bersih 4.0 was held from 29 till 30 August, with a crowd estimation of about 500,000 people in KL.
Image via Kwong Wah via NK Khoo
