Following the arrest of red-shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos, secretariat member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah has called for the arrests of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and her predecessor Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Armand said Jamal’s arrest was proof that the red-shirts were “brave” in facing legal action in the face of “threats to public order”.

“We give our full cooperation to the police when we are called for investigation although we don’t really agree with the way in which Jamal was arrested.

“(Therefore), we urge the police to also arrest Bersih members as they are also responsible for acts of provocation and went on with the convoy without permits.

“We urge the police to be fair in not only arresting Jamal, but they must also arrest Maria and Ambiga," he told reporters outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.

As a lawyer, Armand said Ambiga should know that action can be taken against her, too, for organising the convoy without permits.

Armand added that the red-shirts were in agreement for action to be taken against those found guilty.

“We never ran from the responsibility to defend the constitution, but we ask that the police be fair.

“If they arrest Jamal, we ask that the police arrest Maria and Ambiga, too, for not following the law as stipulated in the Peaceful Assembly Act.”

Commenting further on Jamal’s arrest, Armand did not discount the possibility of Jamal’s supporters gathering and spending the night here tonight.

Jamal was remanded for two days following his arrest this morning and is being investigated under Section 500 and 503 of the Penal Code for defamation and criminal intimidation, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.

Meanwhile, on another matter, Armand announced that the red-shirts would be holding a gathering at a soon-to-be confirmed location to provide explanation on the group’s plans in the lead-up to the Bersih 5 rally which would be held on Nov 19.

“On Nov 5, we will hold a huge gathering where we will gather thousands of Malays and those who support the country’s constitution in Kuala Lumpur.

“We will give clear explanations as to why we are against Bersih,” he said.

Bersih’s series of convoys which kick-started earlier this month saw scuffles between Bersih and red-shirts supporters.

Last week’s convoy in Kuala Selangor, on the other hand, saw media practitioners roughed up by anti-Bersih supporters.

Meanwhile, MCA believes that police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should act against those who threatened the lives of Maria, Ambiga and Bersih secretariat member Mandeep Singh.
 
Police should also provide Maria and her children with protection at their residence, as the person sending death threats also sent copies of her children's identity cards, MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun said. 
 
The trio received threats in the form of a doctored image, which showed them kneeling next to a masked man holding a knife to their necks. 
 
The images were reminiscent of the Islamic State beheading videos and were accompanied by a message signed by "Islamic State Malaysia".
 
"Similarly, the sender must be probed for links or contacts with IS and any other terrorist organisation like al-Qaeda, JI, Boko Haram, Abu Sayyaf etc in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia," she said in a statement. 
 
"Besides terrorist charges, the sender must also be investigated for and charged with attempted abduction and murder. These terrorist threats are serious matters of national security and must not be brushed aside."
 
Chew also urged police to act on anti-Bersih activist Mohd Ali Baharom who allegedly threatened Maria's safety last month. 
 
Ali was arrested over the matter to assist investigations but was released without charge.