Red Shirts rudderless without their leader

KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the Red Shirts were seen loitering around town during the early stages of the rally.

The lack of leadership following Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos’ arrest early yesterday morning may have had an effect on the gathering.

On several occasions Red Shirt members were stopped by police when they tried to get to Padang Merbok to hold their rally.

They were seen walking back and forth along Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Kuching as police used barricades to block them from entering Padang Merbok.

The group was believed to have found a different route and gathered at Padang Merbok at around 1pm but by 3pm they were seen leaving the area.

At 8am yesterday a group of people in Red Shirts at Masjid Jamek LRT station area were seen harassing several reporters and Bersih supporters who were trying to buy breakfast at the stalls nearby.

Many then decided to buy their food elsewhere.

Women were whistled at and given catcalls.

The Red Shirts were there to protest the Bersih 5 rally.

Their group leader, Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos, was arrested over a fracas at Ampang Point in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 13.

Umno Youth exco member Datuk Armand Abu Azha Hanifah, who spoke at Padang Merbok said that the Red Shirts were not a racist or radical movement but were peaceful demonstrators who obeyed the law.

Armand, who led the Red Shirts rally against the Bersih 5 said the perception that the Red Shirts were only for one race was wrong.

“Today we proved that to Malaysians with our Chinese, Indian, Sikh and other friends also attending the gathering,” he said during the counter rally at Padang Merbok.

“We are a very peaceful. We are law abi­ding citizens,” he said prior to his arrest at Padang Merbok.

The group had gathered at PWTC before marching to Jalan Raja Laut.