A unit under Umno’s Constitution and Legal Bureau has set up an urgent arrest team to assist those attending tomorrow’s Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally in Kuala Lumpur.

The team of lawyers from the Bona Fide Friends of Umno (BFF Umno) is offering free legal services on the day of the rally, as well as the first remand hearing for those arrested during the rally.

When contacted, the team coordinator Suzana Norlihan confirmed that BFF Umno is offering legal aid.

A letter circulated to rally-goers by BFF Umno include a list of do’s and don’ts for protestors at the rally, warning that her team’s assistance is no excuse to do as they wish.

Suzana in the letter warned against carrying weapons, pointing out that this is an offence under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 as well as the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

“We as lawyers are only helping in terms of lodging police reports, securing bail, or reducing the length of a remand period in case there are any arrests against the organisers or participants.

“Our presence or assistance is not a ticket for participants to commit any offences as they wish. Remember this!

“If the organiser and participants commit any offence under Malaysian law on that day, the police have the power to arrest or detain you,” she said.

Other don’ts for the rally’s participants include:

• Don’t provoke anyone, or respond to provocation.

• Don’t conduct any street protest, which is to make any protest or to advance any cause that could threaten a peaceful assembly.

• Don’t bring any minors below 15 years old.

• Don’t do anything that is not good or criminal.

If provoked, rally participants are urged not to respond except to record the incident and lodge a police report later.

According to Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor, the rally is to show support for the government and love for the nation.

Organisers National Silat Federation (Pesaka) said the rally was called because Malays were offended by insults to Malay leaders at the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30.

However, he said the rally is not just for Malays and urged against inter-ethnic violence.

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