Jamal's towel quintet 'show' a bust

Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos holds a pair of towels, a toothbrush and a scratched red water scoop at the entrance of Selangor state secretariat building in Shah Alam. -NSTP/FAIZ ANUAR

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos' second bid to gain access into the Selangor Menteri Besar's bathroom has been foiled.

Not only was his attempt blocked by police, the number of those who joined him was a mere four, leaving the 'quintet' high and dry.

Police launched a roadblock to stave off Jamal and his potential towel clad supporters as early as 9.40am today.

As a result, motorists were barred from plying the 200m guarded access into the state secretariat building along Persiaran Sultan, here.

Despite the social media traction on his "return" since a sudden water disruption hit Selangor and parts of Kuala Lumpur last week, only four men were with him, presumed to be his security detail.

Although it was supposed to be a "come in your towel' protest, Jamal, who turned up late himself, wore a blue batik shirt instead of a towel.

He, however vowed to pursue his case until he could meet Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, whom he described as "Menteri Besar yang gemuk air" (a bloated Menteri Besar).

"I have a gift of two towels and a toothbrush that I have kept for three years," said Jamal in reference to his first bid to enter the state secretariat for a bath during a previous massive water supply disruption in the state in 2016.

"And while I have not been allowed inside and none of his officers have come to take my gift and (12 point) memorandum (on the state's water crisis), I will not give up," he said while holding a scratched red water scoop which was part of the proffered "gift hamper".

Asked about the small number of supporters/protesters, Jamal said he was not expecting anyone to join him. He declared that all he wanted was the space to have a dialogue with Amirudin.

"The problem is never ending in my house. There are water cuts lasting two days every month."

"People are still suffering with water cuts and issues related to the utility despite hundreds of millions spent by the state and billions spent by the federal government to address the problems.

"I am not a criminal or a gangster, I don't know why he doesn't want to meet me and other community leaders to settle this problem once and for all for the good of the people."

After being told that there was no one coming to take his memorandum in front of the media, Jamal stressed that the protest, however anticlimactic, was not a political gimmick and issued a warning to the MB.

"This is not the last you've seen of me, I can turn up at any place any time. I can even turn up here tomorrow with or without a towel."

In 2016, Jamal staged a solo towelled protest in front of the Selangor Secretariat Building where he made a provocative bid to enter then Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali's office for the same purpose.

After being barred from the building, Jamal threatened to go to Kuala Lumpur City Centre to take a bath at the pool there. - malaymail