Umno Youth is backing down on plans to hold a counter-rally against Bersih 2.0, albeit temporarily, to heed the Agong's calls for all quarters to stand down.

                                   

At a press conference today at PWTC, Umno Youth information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican said they were following the Agong's call.

However, he said they will proceed should the Bersih 2.0 hold its rally on Saturday as planned.

                   

"We will obey the Agong's statement and we warn (Bersih 2.0 chief) Ambiga (Sreenevasan) to stand down, failing which we will definitely be there to defend the sovereignty of the country, monarch and people," he said.

Merican noted that, while the Agong did not specify that the Bersih 2.0 rally would be illegal, this was implied by virtue of the Agong’s unusual decision to issue a statement

                                   

He further warned that Bersih 2.0 would contribute to"creating chaos" should they proceed with the rally and that Umno Youth would be unable to control all their members.

"Some members are passive, some are active, and some are aggressive," he explained.

'Wait for audience with Agong'

Asked about Bersih 2.0's plan to seek an audience with the Agong, Putera Umno chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said Umno Youth must first hear from Ambiga before commenting.

"We have nothing to bring up with the Agong, we have our own channels, we want to listen to every word what she (Ambiga) has to say after meeting the Agong," he said.

In a rare move, the Agong yesterday issued a press statement urging all those planning to hold mass rallies on Saturday to “negotiate” instead of holding demonstrations.

Following this, Ambiga announced that Bersih 2.0 will seek an audience with the Agong to discuss matters further.

Bersih 2.0 is an electoral reform pressure group comprising of more than 60 NGOs. It plans to hold the rally on Saturday to raise awareness of flaws in the electoral system, and to petition the Agong on the matter.

However, groups such as Perkasa and Umno Youth have vowed to hold counter-rallies, accusing Bersih 2.0 of being a front for Pakatan Rakyat and a group that is out to topple the federal government.

Umno Youth had earlier announced that they would counter the Bersih 2.0 ‘Walk for Democracy’ for free and fair elections, with their own so-called ‘Patriot’ rally.

Members of the Patriot rally were behind a controversial demonstration outside PKR’s headquarters recently.

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