Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar questioned why those who do not abide by the law are requesting for protection.

He was responding to former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan who had said that there are existing legal provisions that can be applied to prevent the Bersih rally and the red-shirts counter-rally to occur simultaneously.

"Those who want to ask for protection should obey the law first.

"If they themselves do not obey the law, why are they asking for protection (from the police)?" he said after the launch of "Palestine Not Forgotten" campaign at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

The IGP added that supporters of Bersih or the red-shirts who intended to buy the official T-shirts of either groups should consider using that money to donate to the Aman Palestine Fund, the group behind the campaign today.

That would be a better use of the money, he said.

Aside from Ambiga, fellow lawyer Eric Paulsen had also pointed out that the police could apply Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to compel the red-shirts to hold their counter-rally at another time.

Khalid also responded to PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli who had asked the police to stop the red-shirts from holding a rally for the safety of the police.

"We should stop both, the red, the yellow, even if there are any other colours coming.

"We should stop it because it is not in accordance with the law," the IGP said.

Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, had said that the safety of the police was at risk unless they stopped the red-shirts from holding their rally this Saturday.

"The IGP will be remembered for risking the lives and safety of your police force this Saturday unless you do something now (about) Jamal.

"Stop the rabid, fascist and racist messages of the red-shirts," Rafizi told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He said the recent behaviour of the red-shirts and their leader Jamal Md Yunos showed that they "cannot be controlled" and posed a threat to both civilians and the police.

"You (Khalid) could have stopped this earlier but you allowed it to happen and gave Jamal the space to spread hatred and to gather racists and fascists under the red-shirts," he said.

In recent weeks, Jamal and his red-shirts have been hounding Bersih supporters throughout the country, often involving one-sided physical violence and repeated threats of violence.

After Jamal sustained a bloody nose during a scuffle with the police on Sunday, he blamed opposition supporters for the incident and vowed to retaliate "with blood" and will "cincang (dice)" his assailant.

Bersih will be gathering near Dataran Merdeka this Saturday to demand clean elections, clean government, the right to dissent, the strengthening of Parliament and empowerment of Sabah and Sarawak.

However, the red-shirts claimed that Bersih was spreading hatred and vowed to hound them on Nov 19.

Meanwhile, national news agency Bernama reported Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi promising legal action against the organisers of both Bersih 5 and the red-shirt counter-rally this Saturday.

He said both sides should abide by the police prohibition order issued to avoid any untoward incident.

"They should not go ahead with the gathering; that is the best. Police will not compromise with any party in taking action if the gathering goes ahead," he added.

Ahmad Zahid said the order not to hold the gathering, issued recently by the IGP was clear and should be obeyed by all parties.