DPM: No rallies

KUALA LUMPUR: Both Bersih 2.0 and the Red Shirts group were yesterday urged to call off their rallies to prevent any clashes between the two.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said if one of them stops, the other would follow suit.

“You see, if there is no yellow (rally), there will be no red (rally). If there is no (Bersih 2.0 chairman) Maria Chin (Abdullah), there will surely be no (Red Shirts leader Datuk) Jamal Yunos.

“So, I urge both the red and yellow groups to find a better channel to address issues than to organise rallies,” he said in his winding-up speech on the 2017 Budget debate.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, was responding to an interjection by Ramkarpal Singh ( DAP- Bukit Gelugor), who questioned why no action was taken against Jamal, who had openly threatened to use violence against Bersih 5 participants and organisers.

Ramkarpal had also questioned whether the lack of action against Jamal was due to any links between the ministry and him.

Last week, it was reported that Jamal had said the Red Shirts group “will not hesitate to do anything to stop the Bersih rally” even if they were to “bathe in blood”.

Jamal had planned a rally this Saturday in protest against the Bersih 5 rally for electoral reform, which is to be held on Nov 19.

“Is the ministry proposing any immediate action to prevent any unwanted situation and arrest him?” Ramkarpal said.

Ahmad Zahid said both groups should adhere to the laws and regulations by cancelling the rallies following KL Mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz’s statement that the organisers will not be allowed to use Dataran Merdeka as the venue.

He had also refuted claims that the ministry had any link with Jamal and that the police would take serious action against both groups i f t hey vi olate any