LIVE: This is ‘jihad’, says Pekida chief, as thousands gather in KL for ‘red shirt’ rally

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan with participants of the 'red shirt' rally at the Natonal Mosque. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, September 16, 2015.Pekida president Jamaluddin Yusof described the 'red shirt' rally today as a "jihad" and said he expected 10,000 members from the Malay NGO to turn up today.

"Our members are not expecting any allowance for coming here today. We consider this a 'jihad' for the good of the country. We are carrying out our duty," Jamaluddin told reporters at Padang Merbok, where the rally goers will gather.

"I don't usually mobilise members to attend the rally, but since the police gave permission for this one to be held, Pekida will take part."

Jamaluddin had disregarded the red shirt dress code and instead wore a black vest with the word Pekida and his name emblazoned on his chest.

He assured that the group was not interested in provoking any violence, despite the racial sentiments of the rally.

"Pekida does not like fights. We are thinking about what outsiders think of the country and Pekida.

"We do not want to be seen as gangsters. We will be polite and respectful."

Earlier this morning, thousands of people begun gathering in the streets of Kuala Lumpur hours before the start of the rally to counter last month's Bersih 4 rally.

Pekida president Jamaluddin Yusof says its members consider today's rally as a 'jihad'. – The Malaysian Insider pic, September 16, 2015.The protest, also called Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, which is organised by Malay martial arts group Pesaka and supported by several Umno leaders and Malay NGOs, is said to be an assertion of Malay dominance.

Scores of buses have been seen arriving in the city centre with their passengers dressed in red T-shirts.

Rally-goers were seen holding placards and banners with the words "Melayu Bangkit" (Malay Uprising).

Hundreds of police and Federal Reserve Unit officers have been stationed at several areas in the city centre.

Police have declared that the rally is legal, but have said three areas – Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and the area around Low Yat Plaza – are off-limits to the protesters.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said he will not stop Umno members from participating in the rally, but The Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, also called 'red shirt' rally, participants sending a message outside the National Mosque. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Farhan, September 16, 2015.stopped short of endorsing the gathering.

The rally has come under fierce criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, Umno Supreme Council members, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, as well as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, both of whom were top Umno leaders until a decade ago.

Follow The Malaysian Insider for live updates:

12:01pm: Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan has arrived at the National Mosque, greeted by more than 1,000 rally-goers who are shouting "Allahuakbar" (God is Great) and "Hidup Melayu" (Long-live Malays).

11.46am: The mood at Padang Merbok is sombre and the entire field is empty, save for a policeman and his dog.  A large crowd of rally-goers appear bored and restless as they wait for the action to begin and for more to arrive.

11.30am: More than 10,000 people have gathered in PWTC and are moving in batches on foot towards Padang Merbok.

11.20am: A group of about 50 people dressed in red, riding motorcycles, have begun gathering in front of Petaling Street. Police had earlier said Petaling Street, along with Bukit Bintang and the area surrounding Low Yat Plaza, are off-limits to rally-goers.The 'red shirt' rally participants seen gathering at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur this morning. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 16, 2015.