With less than 24 hours to the planned pro-government mega rally dubbed "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu", the final game plan remains unclear.

After several twists and turns leading up to the event, it seems that what remained unchanged is change itself.

Even the name of the rally had morphed from the initial "Himpunan Maruah Melayu".

Who is the organiser and what is it for?

At the beginning, Gabungan NGO-NGO Malaysia chairperson Jamal Md Yunos claimed he will mobilise 30,000 Malays in red shirts on Sept 16 to “defend Malay dignity”.

It was in response to the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30 which he claimed was dominated by Chinese.

This rally was a revival of Jamal's aborted counter-protest which was meant to take place on the same days of Bersih 4.

Jamal's rhetorics was very much similar this time around, but the Sungai Besar Umno division chief later shifted his stance, saying the coalition was actually "invited" by the rally organiser National Silat Federation (Pesaka).

Despite Jamal peddling Pesaka's name, it remained silent for a time, allowing him to become the de facto spokesperson for the rally.

When Pesaka finally broke its silence last Saturday, it distanced from the racial rhetorics and red shirts.

Pesaka, headed by former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam, clarified that the rally organised by the group on Sept 16 has nothing to do with the rally planned by Jamal’s affiliates.

Jamal later conceded, stressing that he will comply with Pesaka's plan.

What colour are they wearing?

Jamal called on Malays to "go red" and counter the yellow wave at the Bersih 4 rally last month which led to the group being branded as the "red shirts".

This was maintained in the belated protest and his associates began printing and selling red shirts to interested participants.

However, when pesaka broke its silence, its chief Mohd Ali Rustam said pariticipants may not necessarily wear red shirts as they can don Pesaka's official colour - black, or any colour they want.

Since then, Jamal said that there was his coalition will follow Pesaka's lead.

After earning brickbats, Jamal (photo) , also toned down his racial rhetorics, inviting the Chinese and Indians to take part in the rally but said Yellow shirts - Bersih's colour - was still not allowed.

Malay rally or unity rally?

After shelving the idea to hold a counter rally alongside Bersih 4, Jamal accused the Chinese-dominated rally of humiliating the Malays.

He then called for a counter-Bersih rally , dubbed 'Himpunan Maruah Melayu'.

Among his earliest public supporter was Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii.

Immediately after, posters with racial elements including that threatening bloodshed, started circulating, prompting some NGOs to lodge police reports

While Jamal distanced himself from the racial provocation, he "warned" non-Muslims to avoid being in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 16.

On Sept 10, he zoomed in on the " DAP Chinese ", accusing them of offending Malays.

When Pesaka finally emerged as the organiser, it announced the rally is called ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ and is to protest against Bersih for hurting Malays' dignity.

But it has nothing to do with 'Himpunan Maruah Melayu' and those who want to incite racial violence should stay away from it.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (photo) further toned down the racial rhetoric, rebranding it as a rally to show support for government and love for the nation.

Is the rally legal?

The flip-flopping was not only on the part of the organisers as police sent equally confusing signals.

Deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim, on Sept 7, first declared that the rally was banned due to security concerns .

After receiving reports, the police even probed the rally posters under Sedition Act, and pointed out that the police have yet gotten any notice from the organiser.

The police finally received the notice on Sept 11 but said whether the rally can go ahead or not will depend on Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s approval of venues sought by the organiser.

DBKL approved the request to use Padang Merbok as a gathering point, leaving police to concede that the rally is legal under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Where is the rally?

The Red Shirts had initially announced Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street as gathering points, evidently aiming at Chinese-majority areas.

However, after the Umno supreme council meeting on Wednesday, the main rally location that has been bandied about was Padang Merbok.

Senior Umno leaders including party secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor came out strongly against having the rally pass through areas such as Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street.

Under the new plan, participants are expected to gather at several locations including the Kuala Lumpur Crafts Complex on Jalan Conlay, the Federal Territories Mosque, the National Mosque and Putra World Trade Centre before converging on Padang Merbok.

Jamal is expected to lead the crowd at Jalan Conlay, which it only a short distance away from Bukit Bintang.

It remains to be seen if he will abide by the Umno's stop leadership to steer clear of Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street.

Police today announced it will close major roads tomorrow, including Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Kuching/Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Sultan Ismail/Jalan Ampang.

Related reports

Major Chinese business group opposes 'red shirts rally'

PAS condemns effigy burning of opposition leaders

Otai Reformis: No intention of doing 'police work' at rally

PDRM must take lead, not follow DBKL on Sept 16 rally

Reach consensus on red shirt rally, BN parties told

You're not defending Malays, Mahathir tells red shirts

A paradigm shift in Malaysian politics?

Many wary, upset over red shirt rally