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Police open sedition probe over Sept 16 rally posters
Published:  Sep 6, 2015 9:00 PM
Updated: Sep 8, 2015 12:19 PM

The Kuala Lumpur police are investigating calls to hold a counter-rally to Bersih 4 on Sept 16, Sinchew Daily reported today.

The report quoted Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Law Hong Soon saying that the images and text used in the posters is an implied threat, and the police are investigating it under the Sedition Act 1948.

"He stressed that the police is keeping a close eye on developments, but to date have yet to receive any notification of a rally," the report said.

The report said that so far, no party has come forward to identify themselves as the event’s organiser, although the campaign materials have gone viral on social media.

The posters have the words 'tanah tumpah darahku' - a line from the the national anthem which literally means 'the land where my blood spills' - with a picture of a man in a silat pose.

The report said although some rumours have pointed to Malay-rights pressure group Perkasa as the organiser, the NGO’s information chief Hassan Basri Muhammad has denied this.

Nevertheless, Hassan reportedly confirmed that the group will be holding a meeting soon to decide whether to mobilise its members to join the rally.

Veteran activists calling themselves Otai Reformasi yesterday lodged a police report urging police to stop the rally, which it said incited a "bloodbath".

In addition, Sinchew Daily also quoted Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Rafii that he, too, does not know who the event’s organiser.

However, Mohd Razlan (photo) but reportedly expressed Federal Territories Umno Youth’s preparedness to join the rally.

The KL Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairperson Ang Say Tee reportedly urged traders in the Petaling Street area to take the day off on Sept 16 as the rally’s venue is reported to be at Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street.

Most traders in those areas are of Chinese ethnicity.

Separately, the BN Backbencher’s Club (BNBBC) website reported that some 5,000 NGO activists are mobilising to join the rally.

"On my part, I estimate that 5,000 people will go join the rally on Sept 16. As the person leading this NGO, I urge Malays to go en masse to join this rally […]

"We Malays must unite, because this is about the pride of our race. Do not allow cruelty against our race," Yayasan Ayahanda Semalaysia executive chairperson Syed Husain Al Shahab was quoted as saying.

Related reports

Zahid: Blessing in disguise from Bersih picture stomping incident

'Bersih rally hurt feelings of Umno, lacked manners, morals'

Paramedic goes 'white to black' to lead medic team at Bersih 4

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