KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Police must continue investigating the Umno leader who warned of a rally and possible riot at Petaling Street tomorrow even if the event does not materialise, Bersih 2.0 said today.

In a statement, the electoral reform watchdog also accused Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos of “criminal intimidation” over remarks made as part of the #Merah169 rally on September 16.

“Investigation and prosecution must proceed even if he cancels the rally to force authorities’ action on alleged sales of counterfeit products and an end to alleged monoethnic monopoly of businesses,” Bersih 2.0 said.

“Jamal Md Yunos had made criminal intimidation in the running up of the Red Shirts’ rally on September 16 that non-Muslims may be targeted and personally led a crowd of Red-Shirts trying to storm into Petaling Street.”

They added that if Jamal escapes action after making such statements, more groups may follow the “Red Shirts” example and scare off potential tourists and investors.

Jamal sent a statement earlier today clarifying his remark on the Saturday rally and possible riot, and denied he was organising the purported gathering.

The president of the so-called Coalition of Malay NGOs said he was only passing on information he received about the possible rally and expressing his own concerns about possible consequences if the traders do not come in for enforcement action.

Police are on alert for the rally as well as a possible terrorist threat in the nearby Jalan Alor in the Bukit Bintang district.

They will also question Jamal over his “riot” warning.

Police fired water cannons at #Merah169 protesters on September 16 when they tried to force their way into the area known as Chinatown.