A group of 13 non-governmental organisations (NGO) have urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to speak up against the violent actions of Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos and his group of red shirts.

The group, which included Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran), Suaram, Pusat Komas, National Human Rights Society and Jawatankuasa Bertindak Kuala Lumpur Tak Nak Insinerator, expressed concern over Jamal’s apparent ability to act with impunity, as though he is above the law.

“We are concerned that there is a larger political force behind Jamal Md Yunos and the red shirts as he seems to be untouchable and is above the law.

“Is the prime minister cum president of Umno giving political backing and blessing to Jamal Md Yunos, the Umno division head of Sungai Besar, to continue his aggression with the red shirt thugs?

“Will the prime minister publicly condemn the violence by the red shirts and call for action against Jamal Md Yunos and his red shirt thugs? The prime minister must answer now,” said the NGOs in a joint statement read by Zaid Kamaruddin (photo above) at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Zaid was representing Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia and Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia at the press conference.

Some of the NGOs, such as Aliran, Komas and Hakam, are members of the Bersih coalition.

The group noted that Jamal has been accused of punching a Bersih participant in Teluk Intan, intercepted and blocked a Bersih convoy that was en route from Teluk Intan to Bidor, threatened to vault his car on top of a Bersih vehicle and threatened to confront Bersih with more aggression.

“Despite all these, there is still no action taken against Jamal Md Yunos by the police or any other authorities to this day, except that the inspector-general of police said the Facebook post under the account of ‘Dato Jamal Yunos’ will be investigated.

“Will we ever see the instigation and provocation of violence by Jamal Md Yunos with his red shirts be stopped by authorities before the situation gets out of hand?” the group asked.

The group added that it welcomed Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar’s condemnation of the violence by Jamal’s red shirts,, but is shocked that Najib has remained silent thus far.

Jamal told Malaysiakini yesterday that he was overseas and that he would return today to have his statement recorded by the police.

Meanwhile, Suaram representative Amir Abdul Hadi noted that he and many other activists have been arrested before for doing far less before, compared to what Jamal and his group have done.

“We agree that there should be freedom of expression in this country, as stipulated in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

“However, the freedom of expression does not include the right to engage in violence. We don’t condone any form of violence, whether by Bersih participants or by red shirt participants.

“In this matter, we urge the police to take immediate action against Jamal and his followers who have engaged in violence and issued statements that can instigate violence,” Amir said.

The police have thus far arrested three suspects believed to be involved in the incident in Sabak Bernam, where two Bersih supporters were pelted with eggs and assaulted by the the red shirts.