Perkasa, Umno Youth say willing to call off rallies

Ibrahim said Perkasa’s decision hinges on Bersih’s own. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Perkasa and Umno Youth declared today their willingness to cancel counter-protests against Bersih 2.0 this July 9 as a sign of respect for the King’s call for peace last night.


Both groups, however, said their final decisions hinges on whether Bersih 2.0 choose to abide by the monarch’s advice and call off its rally.

Despite praising the King for his “humble” advice, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali told a press conference here this afternoon that Perkasa would have “no choice” but to proceed with its counter-protest if Bersih persisted with doing so.

“The question now is whether Bersih will abide by the King’s advice. If they don’t, that means they are being traitorous to the King and to the Rukunegara, so Perkasa will have no choice but to proceed, but this is my personal view,” he said.

Ibrahim added that Perkasa will convene an executive committee meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on all aspects of the matter and decide whether to proceed with the protest.

But he said that if Perkasa were to continue with its protest, it would do so in a controlled environment to prevent any clashes with Bersih 2.0 protestors that could lead to chaos.

“It will be held in an organised fashion, merely for us to express our rejection of Bersih,” he said, adding that Perkasa protestors would be labelled as “peace warriors” as they planned to help the authorities prevent chaos in the country.

The Pasir Mas MP revealed that Perkasa has already printed 15,000 white T-shirts bearing the words “Aman” (Peace), “Perkasa” and “Pertahankan keamanan negara” (Defend the country’s peace), adding that than 15,000 supporters have registered to participate in the counter-protest.

“We are ready for this event. We have 5,000 registered peace warriors from the Federal Territories, 5,000 from Selangor and the rest are from Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and elsewhere,” he said.

When asked if it would still be considered “treasonous” for Bersih 2.0 to proceed with its rally in a closed environment such as a stadium, Ibrahim said the group could go ahead and it would make him feel more “at ease”.

Kelab Putera 1 Malaysia chairman Datuk Azeez Rahim, who co-organised the “Patriot” counter-rally with Umno Youth, also said the group was willing to “stand down” in deference to the King’s wishes.

But he similarly warned that, if Bersih carries out the street rally as planned, Patriot will be “at the frontlines” to protect the country from chaos.

“If they stand down, we agree... But we remind all parties not to be traitorous to the King,” he told reporters at Umno Youth headquarters here.

Azeez said this was because “Patriot” exists to make known the wishes of the “silent majority” of Malaysians opposed to the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally.

He further urged the police to take action against any party that does not heed the King’s words.

Umno Youth information chief Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican added that “Patriot” supporters will be willing to “fight to the very end” to defend the King and Constitution from any party that threatens either.

“We will not back off even an inch,” he said.

In an unprecedented move yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin stepped in to diffuse tension by advising the Najib administration and Bersih 2.0 to hold consultations over the issue of free and fair elections.

The constitutional monarch rarely issues edicts or statements but the heightened atmosphere over the past week has prompted Istana Negara’s intervention.