The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) will not be cowed by the threat of Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos to hold a Red Shirt rally simultaneously with the Bersih 5 gathering.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah places the responsibility of having both rallies conducted peacefully in the hands of the police.

"What I feel is that both groups have the right to assemble as it is already guaranteed in the Federal Constitution," she said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

"The responsibility will be with the police to facilitate (the rallies of) both groups," she said.

"If the (Bersih rally) turns racial, it will be mainly the work of the government and the Red Shirts,” she said.

Maria cited the Sept 16 Red Shirt rally, which had racial overtones.

Protestors had also sustained injuries when they tried to breach a police line at Petaling Street.

"So it (racial overtone) will not come from Bersih definitely... the violence will not come from Bersih protesters," she said.

She was asked if the coalition will reverse its decision in organising the Bersih 5 rally in the face of the Red Shirt threat.

"We will not reverse our decision. It is very unfortunate that they (Red Shirt) threatened us in this manner."

Meanwhile, activist Hishamuddin Rais dismissed the suggestion to hold the Aug 27 #Tangkap MO1 rally in a stadium.

"What do (we) have in the stadium, (are we) playing football? We want to demonstrate there, not play football," he said.

The press conference was called by Bersih and nine NGOs to express their support for the Aug 27 #TangkapMO1 rally.

Global Bersih steering committee member, Ivy Xavier, said the protest should be held outdoors.

Maria claimed that the stadium would not come for free if Bersih 5 were to be staged indoors.

"I think we need to stop asking questions why the rally should not be held in the stadium because this is freedom of expression.

"I don't think anybody can dictate (to us) where we should be protesting," said Maria.

"A protest doesn't happen like that. A rally is held because you are angry over an issue," she added.