It was reported that Red-shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos has claimed that 300,000 people have pledged to rally against Bersih on Nov 19.
He was quoted to say the following at a press conference at the Selangor Umno headquarters two days ago :-
“We will not hesitate to do anything to stop the Bersih rally.
“For me, our struggle will continue even if we are bathed in blood”.
I wish to ask the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid if the Police will pick Jamal up for questioning and investigation for his “bathed in blood “remarks.
Or will Khalid say that it was again just a ‘war of words” from Jamal, just like how he dismissed Jamal’s previous declaration of war against Bersih 5 as nothing more than war of words?
It is not a surprise that Jamal, an Umno divisional leader, knows how to play the game of war of words. But Khalid has missed an important point—that the Red Shirts group have carried out violent actions against Bersih road show.
In other words, when Jamal’s words were said with such background happenings, it was unwise for the IGP to simply dismiss them as mere war of words.
Similarly, although Jamal had made similar remarks at a rally in Kapar last Saturday and clarified that being “bathed in blood” meant the red-shirts getting covered in their own blood, not that of others, the Police should view what he said with seriousness.
I hope Tan Sri Kahlid will not dismiss what Jamal said as mere words of war again but to carry out the necessary investigation.
It is so disappointing and even irresponsible for Umno leadership to keep silent about Jamal and Umno members’ involvement in the Red Shirts activities against Bersih.
The key and basic question is not whether Jamal or the Umno members are involved in the Red Shirts group in their personal capacities, but whether Umno allows its members to carry out such activities that threaten the democratic rights of the minority to peacefully assemble.