Is UMNO For Or Against The "Red Shirts" Rally?
In a turn of events, Najib and his party, UMNO are championing freedom of speech and the people's civil right to assemble.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 14 Sep 2015, 08:16 PM — Updated over 8 years ago
DPM: Banners from "red shirts" rally not racist, they were edited and taken from elsewhere
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police had conducted investigations and discovered that pictures of racially tinged banners that went viral on social media had not come from the organisers.
"There is not one banner that was racially tinged or touched on any other religion. What went viral on social media, we have investigated and there is not a single banner that was racially tinged, it was by other parties," he said while winding up the debate on Budget 2016.
He said what had happened was that the banners had been edited and taken from elsewhere. He also said the Kuala Lumpur gathering, known as Himpuan Rakyat Bersatu, had not featured any sensitive or racially tinged speeches.
"I am not accusing quarters that are against the reds, but I know from the police that it did not originate from the 'red shirt' rally," he added.
themalaysianinsider.com
14 SEPT: UMNO neither agrees nor disagrees with the racially stoked 'red shirts' rally
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak heavily criticised the Bersih 2.0 movement for holding Bersih 4.0 rally on 29 and 30 August. Words such as 'shallow', 'poor in patriotic spirit', and 'lack of love for the country' was liberally used to criticise all Bersih supporters.
The longest ruling party of Malaysia to date, Barisan Nasional has always been highly critical against all forms of street demonstration.
In spite of that, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the quickest of all UMNO members to respond positively to the 'red shirts' rally
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said UMNO members are free to join the Sept 16 red-shirts rally but reminded them that they must follow the law.
"No, (I won't stop UMNO members from joining the rally).
"It is a free country, as long as they observe the law. No one is above the law, including UMNO members. They are not above the law," said Najib, who is also UMNO president.
malaysiakini.com
Similarly, UMNO Youth chairman Khairy Jamaluddin jumped into the band wagon and agreed with Najib's opinion, taking it as the party's collective view
UMNO Youth said today it will stand by party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s position on the September 16 “red shirt” rally and will neither endorse the gathering nor stop its members from participating.
“I defer to the comments of the PM, let that represent the position of the party,” wing chief Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters after launching the Garmin MP Steps Challenge in Parliament today.
At a press conference yesterday, Najib said UMNO was not supporting the rally but added that the party would not bar its members from taking part as it is a “free country”.
themalaymailonline.com
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the very same person that banned all things yellow and insisted that Bersih 4.0 is illegal, has openly expressed his support for the red shirts street rally
UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said the party will not prevent its members from taking part in a planned "red shirt" rally organised by a pro-Malay rights group, on September 16.
"I think it all comes down to the individual rights of the members," he said when asked if UMNO will be involved in the protest in a popular tourist destination, Jalan Bukit Bintang, in Kuala Lumpur.
themalaysianinsider.com
Before the 'red shirts' rally was legalised, a letter calling for a meeting prior to the rally, from UMNO to its branches nationwide started circulating
The letter from Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusof directing representatives from state liaison committees to attend meeting on September 4 to discuss arrangements for the ‘red shirt’ rally, as sighted by The Malaysian Insider
Image via The Malaysian InsiderIn a letter sighted by The Malaysian Insider, representatives from state liaison committees were to attend a meeting on September 4 to discuss arrangements for the rally which will take place in Kuala Lumpur.
The letter was signed by UMNO executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusof and the meeting was held at UMNO's HQ in Menara Dato Onn at 9am on Wednesday.
themalaysianinsider.com
However, Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauh Jusoh refuted the claims and clarified that the meeting was only called in preparation for the 'red shirts' rally
Rauf told The Malaysian Insider that the September 4 meeting he called was for UMNO members to "just get ready" in the event that they were invited to join the protest.
But since party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on September 9 he was not endorsing the rally, the meeting was now a moot point, said Rauf.
themalaysianinsider.com
While UMNO's roots are clearly planted deep in the 'red shirts' protest, UMNO Melaka on the other hand, rejected the protest to be held on Malaysia Day
Malacca UMNO is not supporting the red shirt rally on Sept 16, liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Idris Haron said on Friday.
Idris, who is Chief Minister, said while Malaysians have the democratic right to peaceful gatherings and voice their opinions, it has to be done with the approval of the police.
"I do not support any illegal gatherings. We must abide by the law to ensure the peace in our beloved country," he said in a statement.
Just hours after promising that the Malaysia Day rally will be peaceful, its organiser, National Silat Federation leader Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam claimed that he will not be responsible for any unprecedented incidents that might occur during the rally
"Whoever contravenes (the law), he has to be responsible himself. As organisers, we only (manage) the gathering in Padang Merbok. "And I don't think any of our participants will burn any effigies, but whoever does so, will have to bear responsibility.
Ali's statement, however, ran contrary to the requirements of the notice of the Peaceful Assembly Act which required the organiser to be responsible towards any untoward incidents.
themalaysianinsider.com
With objectives carved to uphold Malay dignity and fiery speeches about the importance of preserving Malays' position in politics, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor out of the blue claimed that the rally is for everyone that loves the country
Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today said the rally on Sept 16 is not to "protect Malay dignity" but is a rally for those who love the country and support the government.
"This is not a Malay gathering but a gathering of the rakyat, who are from different races. I feel other races will also come down and gather," said Tengku Adnan, who is also UMNO secretary-general.
"If the people love the country, regardless Chinese, Malay and Indians should participate to show their support to the government," he said in a press conference after launching Projek Residensi Razakmas today.
malaysiakini.com
Contradicting all talk of peace and unity for Malaysians, Kota Bharu UMNO division has 'protested' against Bersih 4 by burning effigies of DAP leaders
In a video clip uploaded on YouTube yesterday, UMNO members, led by Kota Baru division head Datuk Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh, were seen burning effigies of DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
Fatmi, who is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's former political secretary, was seen giving a fiery speech urging party members to participate in the September 16 gathering to “uphold the dignity of Malays” in the video.
"Burning their effigies is a symbol of our protest, we are against everything about Bersih which are just lies.
themalaysianinsider.com
Putting aside his personal preferences, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today, declared the 'red shirts' rally or currently known as 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' as legal
The Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu or "red shirt" rally on Wednesday is now legal under the Peaceful Assembly Act, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today, after organisers obtained permission from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to use Padang Merbok for the gathering.
"Now, the rally will be allowed to go on. Although personally, I don't agree to demonstrations but we will allow it as it fulfils the criteria under the law," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
themalaysianinsider.com
UMNO's sentiments about street demonstrations are a common knowledge
Our ruling government has made it very clear that they have some pretty contrasting thoughts when it comes to the red shirt rally to be held on Malaysia Day this week.
Started by Sungai Besar Umno divisional leader Jamal Md Yunos, the anti-Bersih movement has managed to garner some engaging responses from UMNO premiers.