Though refusing to respond to reports that Umno members are being mobilised for the red-shirts counter-rally against Bersih 5 this Saturday, Selangor Umno information chief Zein Isma said he was called to join in his personal capacity and that he would also ask those he knows to attend.

"Speaking as a citizen of Selangor, as a Malay, I myself feel called (to the red-shirt counter-rally), and I shall ask my children to go too," Zein said during a press conference at the Selangor Umno building today.

This is because he believes that electoral reform group Bersih is insulting the national leadership, and worse, is attempting to overthrow the democratically-elected government.

Zein said this when asked to respond to reports that Umno members in several states were being mobilised to join the counter-rally of the red-shirts.

Jamal is congratulated

Zein congratulated Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, who leads the red-shirts, for his success in gathering crowds to express their loyalty to the country and preserving national harmony.

"Even if they (Bersih) want a change of government, they should wait for GE14, and let the rakyat choose, instead of going to the streets trying to imitate the 'Arab Spring' and topple the leadership that way," he said.

Zein reiterated that he knows nothing about Umno members being mobilsed in Malacca, Perak and Selangor to join the red-shirts in Kuala Lumpur.

"I reserve my comment. You can ask Jamal, I don't know." 

He added that he would ask his friends and acquaintances who feel that the future of Malaysia is being threatened by foreign interference to form a strategy on how to defend the country from being ridiculed.

Asked again if Umno members would be mobilising on Saturday for the red-shirts' counter-rally against Bersih 5, he shrugged off the matter.

"As I said, you have to ask Jamal," he concluded.

Media reports and news on social media have stated that Umno is mobilising its members to make up the numbers for the red-shirt counter-rally, which is slated to go head-to-head with Bersih 5 this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin have also advised youths not to participate in the Bersih 5 rally as it did not bring any benefit.

According to Bernama, Khairy said besides that, it was also feared that the rally would turn violent.

"Youths should not get involved in demonstrations, not because (the government) wants to restrict freedom but we have seen what had happened in Bersih 3 before, (in) which (some of the participants) turned aggressive.

"Police patrol cars were damaged and (some of the participants) attacked the police. We do not want things like this to happen," he told Malaysian reporters after visiting the MyCorps international volunteer project site at Kampung Anlong Samnar, in Siem Reap, today.

Khairy is on a two-day working visit to Cambodia beginning yesterday.

Khairy who is also Umno Youth chief, said the Bersih 4 rally was marred by the offensive actions of a number of its participants.

"Although no violent incidents took place, there were uncivil actions (by Bersih 4 participants) such as stomping on pictures of leaders. To me, it is better (for youths) to avoid participating in such a rally. This is because it can lead to actions that are frowned upon by society." 

Khairy also hoped that incidents that could jeopardise national security would not occur at the rally, if held.

"The rally (Bersih 5) should not be held, any demands can be made through the proper channels," he said.

On Nov 8, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the Bersih 5 group had yet to fulfil the prerequisites to organise any mass gathering this Saturday.