KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Claiming the anonymous organisers of the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ to be more disciplined than Bersih 2.0, Umno-owned broadsheet Utusan Malaysia urged today the authorities to greenlight the group’s September 16 rally.
In an opinion article in its Sunday Mingguan Malaysia edition, the Malay paper’s editors also described the Malaysia Day rally to be noble as it aims to “reject extremism” compared to the Bersih 4 rally last weekend that it claimed was masterminded by the opposition DAP.
“Awang believes that the organisers of Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu will be better disciplined than the Bersih (4) organisers. The police should give them space and not just for Bersih.
“It is heard that even though time is running short for the preparation of the Sept 16 rally, the response has been overwhelming. It is time to send the message clear — to reject extremism without fear,” Utusan’s editors’ wrote under their collective Awang Selamat pseudonym.
An unknown group has made calls via social media for a September 16 rally which in different circles is referred to as either “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, asking its participants to don red.
Posters have been circulated on social media urging Malays to unite in solidarity against various causes ranging from protests against political party DAP to polls reform group Bersih 2.0.
Utusan editors insisted today that 85 per cent of the Bersih 4 rally participants were clearly supporters of the predominantly Chinese opposition party the DAP, claiming a lack of Malay presence as proof despite video and photographic evidence showing a significant number of the race in attendance.
The paper also claimed the reason behind Malay rejection towards Bersih 4 was the growing resentment towards the “thick chauvinist image of the DAP”.
“Everyone knows that 85 per cent of the Bersih 4.0 participants are DAP supporters from the Chinese community.
“That party is known for its thick chauvinist image which is why the Malays are disgusted by the DAP and are cautious as they see the (rally) as wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Though not much is known of its organisers, another anti-Bersih group leader and Umno grassroots leader Datuk Jamal Md Yunos had reportedly said the September 16 rally’s organising group is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday.
A red-shirted group headed by Jamal, who is Sungai Besar Umno division chief, gained prominence for breaking roof tiles with their heads and beating each other with sticks in front of Sogo in a display of “self-defence” skills last month.
Several opposition leaders have called on the police to act on the organisers of the September 16 rally, claiming the event is intended to stoke racial strife.
The organisers of the September 16 rally are said to be planning to hold the event in Chinese-dominated areas such as Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street in the capital city.
