PKR today demanded that Deputy Prime Minister and Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi make a clear stand on whether he supports a planned rally on Sept 16 whic has racial overtones.

"We demand him to explain what are the values that are supported by Umno. Would he support the values as propagated through the rally's posters, which carry an intention to create racial tension?" asked PKR strategic director Sim Tze Tsin.

"He needs to answer as he has allowed Umno members to participate in this 'red shirt' rally," he added.

While defending the rakyat's right to assemble, Sim emphasised that public rallies need to embrace universal values while benefiting the community.

Ahmad Zahid had yesterday said he will not bar Umno members from participating in the mooted 'red shirt' protest.

The rally on Sept 16 is meant as a counter to the Bersih 4 protest, which the red shirts alleged as racist and Chinese-dominated.

Among those who have voiced support for the demonstration are Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii, and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

The rally's mysterious organiser plans to muster 300,000 people for the protest.

While emphasising that PKR defended the right to assemble, Sim however said the motive of the rally should be in accordance with universal values.

He said the organiser must appear in public to explain its motives, just like what the coalition for clean and fair election did when it announced the intention for all Bersih rallies.

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