National Silat Federation (Pesaka) chairperson and red shirt rally organiser Mohd Ali Rustam today said the Malay martial arts group is ready go to war if ever challenged.

Ali said the Sept 16 rally was to show that there were still people in Kuala Lumpur who would defend the Malay race, Islam, as well as the dignity of the country’s leaders.

Ali (photo) was speaking at the officiating ceremony of the Rumah Gayung Persatuan Seni Silat Gayung Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

“It’s not as though we want to wage war, but if there are those who want to do so, we are all for it.

“In this life, we have to have dignity. Money won’t be important if we no longer have our dignity,” he said, to loud cheers of ‘Hidup Melayu’ (Long Live Malays) at the event in Kuala Lumpur.

He added when Malays are split among themselves they would not be seen as a strong race and have insults hurled at them.

Ali also cited “heartbreaking” incidences where the country’s rulers and leaders had been insulted ‘four times’, including during the Bersih 4 rally.

“We don’t mind if people don’t like us, but don’t insult us, don’t insult our leaders.

“As Malays, we are embarrassed when they stomp the pictures of our leaders,” he said, commenting on the incident where an image of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang were stepped upon during the Bersih rally in August.

“Where were we after being four times insulted?” he questioned.

Rationalising further, Ali said that this was why they were called to hold the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally.

“We wanted to show that the silat people are still in Kuala Lumpur. (So) don’t insult our leaders in such a way,” he said.

The rally held on Sept 16, was called to “defend Malay dignity” but was marred with racial epithets hurled against the Chinese community.

It was in retaliation for the mostly-Chinese attended Bersih 4 rally, which called for Najib’s resignation.

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