Umno will not stop members' participation in Sept 16 rally

MALACCA: Umno will not prevent any of its members from taking part in a planned Sept 16 rally in Kuala Lumpur, said party executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusof (pic).

He said those who want to take part in the "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu" rally could do so on their own will.

"Umno will not stop its members from joining. I can state that Umno will be there if we are invited," he said after the opening of the Masjid Tanah Umno Youth and Puteri Wings' AGM by supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the National Youth Skills training centre at Ramuan Cina here, Saturday.

Earlier, Ismail said the rally was organised by a Malay based non-governmental organisation (NGO) and Umno had no hand in it.

He said it was the prerogative of division chairmen to send participants to the rally.

"I will send members to participate in the rally as (Bera) division chief," he said.

Ismail said he had yet to receive details on the exact venue of the rally.

The rally is supposed to be held by Umno and PAS members as an act of solidarity against Bersih 4 participants who allegedly stomped on a picture of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The rally will be held for 12 hours starting from noon, with all participants wearing red shirts.