Whether it is by beating up Bersih supporters or manhandling journalists, the anti-Bersih movement has inadvertently become the free and fair elections group's biggest promoter.

The Bersih convoy on its own, might have had limited reach to the public, if it were not for the overwhelming reaction to media reports of violent incidents involving the red shirts.

For example, there were Bersih convoys in Penang, Kelantan, Sabah, and Johor yesterday too, but it received scant media attention unlike the Selangor convoy which was disrupted by anti-Bersih protesters, who were not wearing red at the time.

The event in Selangor up to that point had been a dull affair, with the local Bersih organising committee for the move from Sekinchan to Kuala Selangor, opting to make the home of a local PKR leader as the convoy's first stop.

There, politicians - at least four of whom were from PKR - as well as activists, spent almost two hours delivering speeches to other politicos and people who were already converted to the cause.

Even some activists present expressed to Malaysiakini their dissatisfaction with the tea function, which they said was hijacked by politicians.

It was only later did the convoy split into three teams to hand out leaflets promoting its Nov 19 rally.

But the efficacy of leaflets is debatable, especially when compared to the attention the anti-Bersih group brought.

Instead of a limited audience, Bersih instead received nationwide attention, especially after last week's kicking and egging incident, which went viral and sparked outrage online.

Umno Youth leader Armand Azha Abu Hanifa who was present during yesterday's incident, but not involved in the fighting, noted that Bersih was not getting that much traction on the ground.

However, he did not see a problem with how things turned out.

"To say that they got more coverage, if you look at it from another perspective, we got even more coverage than Bersih because they don't have support," Armand told Malaysiakini.

He also said whether Bersih was getting any sympathy or support from the incidents was up to personal interpretation.

The Bersih convoys are part of an effort to kick up support for the Bersih 5 rally on Nov 19.

Red shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos has vowed to hold a counter rally on the same day, sparking concerns that there would be clashes.