I applaud the statement made by the Wanita chief of MCA, Heng Seai Kie, asking the police to take a tougher stand on the red-shirts movement. She is the only MCA leader who has openly condemned the violent acts of Jamal Md Yunos so far.

However, it will be better if Heng Seai Kie and her colleagues in MCA can advise Umno leaders not to encourage their party members to join the red-shirts movement to disrupt the peaceful Bersih 5 rally this Saturday.

The letter of Malacca Umno liaison committee (Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri Melaka) to its division leaders on a mobilising meeting on Nov 15, 2016 has been widely circulated in the Internet.

The statement made by some Umno leaders that they won’t stop their party members from joining the red-shirt movement clearly shows that they are behind the red-shirts movement headed by Jamal.

This explains why Jamal and his team can go around the country to disrupt and to attack the Bersih programmes.

Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are the rights enshrined in our Federal Constitution. The objectives of the Bersih assembly are clear and justifiable and it is peaceful in nature, but the red-shirts movement which attacks and obstructs the Bersih programme doesn’t carry any higher objectives.

If Heng Seai Kie and MCA leaders wish to win back the support of voters, they must uphold the principles of the Federal Constitution and human rights. Thus, the right thing for Heng to do is to urge Umno leaders not to support the red-shirts movement which is violent in nature.

TERESA KOK is the MP for Seputeh and national vice-chairperson of DAP.