Death threats to the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) leadership is a cowardly act, slammed Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

"It is both cowardly and racist, we should all condemn it. This kind of thing, we should all condemn it," he said.

NONE Yesterday, several journalists and Bersih supporters were sent a SMS in the wee hours of the morning threatening Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

"Although I don't agree with Ambiga's platform you shouldn't resort to such thing. It is criminal and ridiculous, should be investigated quickly," Khairy told reporters after officiating PPP Youth's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

The lengthy SMS, written in Malay and sent from the number +601119732179, singled out Ambiga as the main target of the threat, though it was also aimed at PAS and PKR leaders who may take part on the rally.

The July 9 rally plans to gather hundreds of thousands of people in a march to Istana Negara to hand over a petition seeking royal intervention in its push for electoral reform.

To counter the march, Perkasa and Umno Youth have vowed to mobilise thousands on the same day.

Despite warnings from the police, all three groups said they would proceed, pointing to their democratic right to assemble.

'Ridiculous to blame BN-Umno'

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has since pledged to order an immediate probe into the death threat and nail down the culprit.

In response to the opposition's accusations that the death threat could be linked to their political opponents, Khairy said:

"Just because there is a death threat? We condemn the death threat but we also condemn people blaming the BN for it.

NONE "How can you say it is BN? There could be other parties who may not agree with you. Anwar (Ibrahim) is being completely ridiculous inciting people saying that it is BN without any proof, well that's Anwar for you".

Though the PKR de facto leader had not blamed Umno or BN, Anwar rebuked the government for allowing extremism to continue.

Meanwhile, Khairy said he has yet to receive a call from Bukit Aman police headquarters regarding a police permit for the rally.

"I have heard nothing. Bukit Aman knows my movements and I'm going off to Gaza (Palestine) on Sunday and if they are going to call me over it has to be before that," he said.

Hishammuddin said on Wednesday all three groups planning separate rallies have been summoned to Bukit Aman.

Ambiga and Ibrahim, however, denied receiving orders to report to police over their planned demonstrations.

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