KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 ― The organisers of the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu or United People's Rally today accused the Bersih movement of treating the country's leadership with contempt, as the event officially kicked off at Padang Merbok here a little after 3pm.
Pesaka President Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam said the only reason why they have gathered at the field ― just a stone's thrown from the city centre ― was because there have been many who have insulted the country, Islam and the Malays of late.
“We are so disappointed with them. So today we are here peacefully to show our feelings (rasa hati kita),” he said when addressing the burgeoning crowd.
“As a free country we must respect the Rukun Negara. But all this has been violated by Bersih, not once but twice, thrice, and now for a fourth time,” Mohd Ali added.
The former Malacca chief minister said it was unacceptable for supporters of the Bersih movement to disrespect and step on the pictures of the country's leaders, especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“He is the prime minsiter for the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans... he was elected democratically. No one should step on his picture,” Mohd Ali said, adding that the rally is also to show “how much we love Malaysia”.
Apart from Mohd Ali, other personalities present at the rally are Umno's Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin and Abdul Rani Kulup, who turned up in a bright green traditional Baju Melayu get up complete with a keris or Malay dagger.
Padang Merbok was about three-quarters full when the event officially kicked off, with thousands more from the “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” or Malay Dignity Rally expected to join them.
The march by the Himpunan Maruah or “red shirts” participants ― so called for their choice of t-shirt colour ― has so far been chaotic with some sections of the protesters clashing with police as they were making their way to the field.
