Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged both Bersih and the red-shirt group to cancel their rallies this Saturday as instructed by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, reported Astro Awani.

Police will not compromise and will take action against those who break the law, he was quoted as saying yesterday.

"In my speech during the Budget, I had said action will be taken against both parties regardless of whether they are red or yellow. So to avoid this, both parties must stand down, which means call off the rallies," he said.

Yesterday, Khalid had classified both rallies as illegal assemblies as they failed to meet legal provisions, especially the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Zahid said both parties must not go against the police as the cops have issued the order not to hold the rallies.

"So, follow what the authorities say. I call on both parties to abide by what the IGP said," he added.

The home minister said police will not take sides in taking action.

Bersih plans to hold its rally near Dataran Merdeka on Nov 19 while Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos, who leads the red-shirts, vowed to gather wherever Bersih would be on that same day.

Jamal who claimed 300,000 people had pledged to rally against Bersih on Nov 19, had repeatedly threatened violence during the rallies.

"For me, our struggle will continue even if we are bathed in blood," Jamal said at a press conference held on Oct 27.

Jamal warned that he could not guarantee the action of his hungry supporters during the Bersih 5 rally.