Malacca Umno has denied it issued a directive to all six divisions to mobilise 1,000 members each to attend the ‘red shirt’ rally on Sept 16.

State liaison committee deputy chairperson Abdul Ghafar Atan was quoted in China Press refuting claims it was rallying members to attend the ‘Perhimpunan Maruah Melayu’.

The state liaison committee said it did not issue such order, Abdul Ghafar was reported saying.

The rally, to counter mammoth gathering Bersih 4 held over the Merdeka Day weekend, is said to be aimed at redeeming the honour and dignity of the Malays.

According to a letter that has since gone viral on the Internet, state Umno secretary Ab Rahaman Ab Karim had penned a letter to the secretary of the division claiming Umno had been invited to participate in the rally.

Members were allegedly told to gather at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur by 2pm before marching to the old Pudu Jail.

In the letter, Ab Rahaman, who is also a state executive councillor and Asahan state assemblyperson, is said to have told members to foot their own expenses.

Two divisions 'didn’t get invite'

Meanwhile, another state exco member and Bukit Katil Umno division deputy chief Md Yunos Husin also denied his division received the invitation.

"We were not invited (to attend the rally)," he told Malaysiakini.

Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin claimed ignorance of the invitation purportedly sent out to all the divisions.

"I don't know. I did not receive it," said Mas Ermieyati, who is also Masjid Tanah parliamentarian and Umno Puteri chief.

When asked if she would mobilise the wing to attend the rally, she said members could join the rally if they want.

She, however, urged them not to do anything stupid or break the law, and stay away from acts that may be interpreted as racist or could cause disharmony.

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