Kota Bharu Umno chief Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh today admitted being present when the effigies of DAP leaders Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang were burned.

However, he stressed that he did not set the effigies alight in the event which comes days before the Sept 16 rally by Malay NGOs meant to counter Bersih 4 rally.

"Yes, I was there at the but I was not the one who burned the effigies.

"I can't possibly be the one doing the burning," said Mohd Fatmi, who is the former political secretary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He declined to elaborate, fearing misreporting by Malaysiakini.

" I don't want to comment to Malaysiakini . You'll spin the story, I say something else but the headline will show something else.

" Malaysiakini is always like this. My friends are always victimised by the portal's penchant for provocative headlines.

"I don't want to comment," he fumed.

In a video of the event, a man reported to be Mohd Fatmi condemned electoral watchdog Bersih as "celaka" (cursed), "durjana" (wicked) and "jahanam" (damned).

The man also accused Bersih of trying to cause friction within the Malay community.

The video also shows effigies of DAP secretary-general Guan Eng and his father DAP veteran Kit Siang burned to ashes.

A mock altar with the photographs of the two leaders was also set up, complete with joss sticks and fruit offerings, symbolising the Chinese custom of worshiping ancestors.

Sept 16 rally organiser the National Silat Federation (Pekesa) president Mohd Ali Rustam said Malays were offended by the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30.

The Bersih 4 rally attracted tens of thousands of people, and had among others called for Najib's resignation.

Initially conceptualised as a rally for "Malay dignity", the Sept 16 rally has since been rebranded as 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' (People United Rally).

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor today said the rally is to show support for the government and love for the nation, and is open to all races.

Protesters plan to march through Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, where most traders are Chinese.

However, organisers have moved the venue to Padang Merbok and obtained approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and police.

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