Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos has denied he said the police hit him during an anti-Bersih incident in Ampang yesterday.

During a scuffle with the police yesterday, Jamal was heard shouting, "Polis tumbuk saya (the police punched me)."

Jamal told the media today that he had instead asked the police to give way for him to chase his assailants, whom he later claimed to be PKR supporters.

"When the incident took place, I didn't say the police hit me, but I had wanted to tell the police I had been hit.

"However, perhaps because of the chaotic situation it appeared as if I had said the police hit me.

"However the ones who hit me were the group from that haram jadah," the Umno grassroots leader told the press outside the Pandan Indah police station today.

The incident took place when Jamal and his red-shirts posse were pursuing Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin as she and PKR members were promoting the Nov 19 Bersih rally at the Ampang Point mall.

The red-shirts were engaged in a scuffle with police personnel, who were blocking the exit, when Jamal was purportedly hit on his face.

Jamal meanwhile was unfazed by Zuraida's threat to take legal action over the alleged false claim

"I want to tell Zuraida, the Mak Lampir (witch) who says she wants to sue me.

"I have no problem if she wants to sue me because in Malaysia, we follow the law.

"Whoever wants to sue is welcome, we will meet in court when the time comes," he said.

Cries foul over reds' remand

Commenting on the detention of his fellow red-shirts, who were brought to Ampang Magistrate's Court this morning, Jamal said the police should be fair to all.

"By right the one who hit me should be caught, not we who were arrested and remanded until Wednesday.

"To me, the arrest of our friends is unfair because we didn't start it.

"When I was hit in an underhanded manner by Mak Lampir's (Zuraida's) followers, I had bled, so naturally my followers were incensed and we wanted to give chase.

"We were blocked by the police as can be seen on Youtube as if we were fighting with the police, but we weren't quarrelling with them.

"We were merely asking the police to let us pass so we can chase them (PKR)," he said.

Meanwhile, Bersih activists heaved a sigh of relief when their leafleting event at Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur today was spared from disruptions from the red-shirts, who hounded them at various locations last weekend.

About 20 activists distributed 2,000 leaflets on the Nov 19 rally, which will be held simultaneously in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was present today, said public response to the leaflets has been encouraging.

“Response has been very good, and those who came today (to give out the leaflets) were from all over the country,” he said.

In his speech, Nik Nazmi urged the public to attend the rally to protest against poor economic governance and corruption.

“The message is clear. If Malaysians want to express how they feel about the things faced by them, be it economic issues or corruption, then we must come out in force on Nov 19,” he added.

Several passing drivers were beeping their horns in support of the event.