COMMENT Whether this should be a question or a statement is for thinking Malaysians to figure out. For the doubters it will be a question; for the perceivers, it will be a statement.

But there is no doubt that the red-shirts are everywhere, confronting and challenging those who are standing up for their rights and for what they believe to be a just cause.

The red-shirts’ blatant conduct and actions have created a tinderbox that could threaten our peace and harmony. They have become bold and outrageous - encouraged by the silence of the top leadership, which has shown more tolerance to them compared to its reaction to the activities of NGOs and the opposition.

The red-shirts have unnecessarily and deliberately provoked the peaceful Bersih 5 convoys at various places and occasions. There was no compelling reason or need to stand in the way of the Bersih convoys, block their passage, assault their members and grab their banners and flags. Such violent behaviour could have incited reaction and retaliation which could have spun out of control.

To their credit and discipline, the Bersih convoy participants refused to be provoked and they restrained themselves from reacting in similar fashion. They did not want their cause to be betrayed by acting foolishly and giving in to animal instincts to retaliate.

In a Facebook posting attributed to Jamal Md Yunos, an allegedly seditious posting read, “I promise the May 13 tragedy will repeat along with flying parang if Bersih 5 is held at the time, date and place as planned on Nov 19. Long live Malays!”

On Oct 10, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar had said that police would investigate the Facebook post. Khalid tweeted about it providing a screenshot of the purported posting by Jamal dated Sept 21. In his tweet, Khalid said: “This seditious statement is unacceptable. The police will take stern and swift action.”

It is almost one month now but we are yet to be told of the findings of the police investigation. We are in the dark as to what “stern and swift action” has been taken. Jamal is still on the prowl, just as arrogant and just as intimidating.

Though Jamal was dramatically arrested at KLIA upon his return from overseas on Oct 19 and remanded for two days, there has been no news of the outcome. The remand has apparently not sobered him or brought him to his senses to behave himself.

On Oct 28, Jamal was quoted as saying, “We will not hesitate to do anything to stop the Bersih rally... For me, our struggle will continue even if we are bathed in blood.”

“Whose blood is he going to spill?” will be the natural question on the lips of thinking Malaysians. Is this what he meant when he was earlier quoted as mentioning “flying parangs”?