Supporters of PKR Youth and Malay rights pressure group Perkasa are scheduled to face off during their respective protests in front of the Utusan Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

PKR Youth plans to protest against Utusan's alleged willingness to be manipulated for political purposes, while Perkasa's counter-protest is against the former for failing to respect Utusan's freedom of expression.

NONE However, there are signs that PKR Youth is not keen on facing off against Perkasa.

At a press conference in Wangsa Maju today, PKR Youth deputy information chief Rozan Azen Mat Rasip (sitting, right in photo) said the protest may be postponed.

He said this is in view of another protest to be held at the same time against the Lynas Advanced Material Plant, at the Australian High Commission.

If this is the case, PKR Youth will instead send a small delegation to Utusan's office to deliver a protest letter to the chief editor.

Rozan said that the latest development does not mean that PKR Youth is cowed by Perkasa's threat to hold a counter-rally.

"We are not afraid of Perkasa if they want to defend Utusan ," he said.

'Cheap publicity'

Rozan also said that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali's recent call for Malays to carry out a jihad (crusade) against Christians is an attempt to seek publicity.

"His actions are shameful for a MP. He should stop trying to seek cheap publicity," said Rozan.

He said inflammatory statements warrant action by the authorities, lamenting that both the premier Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have failed to act.

ibrahim ali perkasa ceramah in gombak 1 In a speech last Saturday, Ibrahim (left) warned the Christian community of bloodshed should an alleged Christian conspiracy, as alleged in a May 7 Utusan report, turn out to be true.

Although both Utusan and Ibrahim have earned widespread condemnation, de facto Law Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday that no action can be taken.