KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Upset by the racially provocative remarks hurled during today’s #Merah169 rally, many Malays took to Twitter to condemn the protester who was recorded calling a reporter “Cina gila babi (Crazy Chinese pig)”.

Kow Gah Chie from the news portal Malaysiakini was trying to interview members of the rally at Petaling Street when she was jeered and heckled by the crowd, forcing her to retreat to safety.

“Lu keluar, you punya bangsa bangsat lu tahu tak, you Cina balik lah balik Cina tongsan balik lu Cina, Cina gila babi!” said the unnamed protester to Kow while other attendees shouted “Cina babi” in unison. (Translation: “You get out, your race is a bastard race, you Chinese better leave and go home, you crazy Chinese pig!”)

Twitter user @noramrinadahlan replied to Malay Mail Online’s tweet on the incident, saying that such remarks and attitude wrongly portrayed Malays and Muslims.

“Islam doesn’t act like this. It’s true. So sad!” she said.

Another user, ‏@eykaericka said that the red shirt protesters were the actual racists and that the man who had hurled the insult should just go back home and “rest”.

“Who is racist now? Dasar tua. Balik rumah rehat dah betul (Old values. He should go home and rest),” she wrote.

Twitter user @MuHdHaRiS_99 said he was not surprised by the actions of the protester, and that it was a reflection of the failure of the country’s national leaders.

“Suka2 je bangsat kan org. X cermin diri. (Callously calling people bastards, but they won’t look at themselves in the mirror),” he said.

Protesters and riot police still a tight knot at the entrance of Petaling Street, moments after water cannons were fired to disperse the crowd, September 16, 2015. — Pictures by Kamles Kumar

This is the second time today that ethnic Chinese reporters were forced to withdraw from the crowd, following an earlier incident involving two press members from the Astro AEC channel.

The duo were removed by police after the rally-goers became agitated when asked to provide examples of how the Malays were allegedly insulted by the Chinese, a key reason for the rally.

Thousands of red-shirted people were bussed into the federal capital this morning to take part in a rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or the United People’s Assembly, but which has drawn grave concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.

The “red shirts” first gathered at several points in the city, including Kompleks Kraf Malaysia in Jalan Conlay, the Putra World Trade Centre and the National Mosque before marching through major roads to converge at Padang Merbok near Parliament.

The rally, said to be in support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership, is a counter to last month’s mammoth two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister’s resignation.

The ruling Malay party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, but has not prohibited its members from participating in today’s demonstration organised by martial arts group Pesaka. 

Malaysiakini reporter Kow Gah Chie is seen at the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' rally in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015.