Quit if cops object to 'red shirt' rally, Ali Tinju tells IGP

KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar should resign if no permit is granted to hold the “red shirt'' rally, said military veteran Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju. 

"We are not moving away from our decision. Even if the police say no, we will go ahead with the rally. 

"If IGP does not agree, he is wrong. If he can't jaga hati (please) the Malays, he might as well quit," said Ali.

He pledged that the rally would be held in a “professional and peaceful” manner. 

"I have said it is a peaceful rally and we will not do anything offensive. 

“There would be no provocation during the rally and we will not offend the non-Malays. 

"We come in peace and we just want to raise the spirit of the Malays. We want to show that Malays are united," he said outside Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) Friday. 

When asked on the pullout by the National Silat Federation (Pesaka) from the rally, Ali said it was their right.

He said the NGOs would still go ahead with the gathering but was coy on who would lead the rally. 

Ali also said there was no change in venue.

He added that the gathering checkpoints would be confirmed after a meeting with NGOs. 

Malay Islam NGOs joint-secretary Durrany Izam said the gathering points that have been confirmed are Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street. 

"We will decide by midnight. Today, we will finalise our plans," he said.

Durrany and his friends were seen selling the “Kebangkitan Maruah Melayu” T-shirts at PWTC. 

He said sales have been good. 

"We have ordered about 47,000 shirts. Today itself, 8,000 T-shirts were booked by NGOs," he added. 

A T-shirt is sold for RM10 and the organisers hope to see participants in “red” at Padang Merbok on Sept 16.

Supporters are expected to gather at various checkpoints around Bukit Bintang at 11am before marching to Padang Merbok at 3pm. 

The rally, organised by a group of Malay NGOs, will be held in Kuala Lumpur to counter the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30.