Jamal claims Bersih wants to surround Putrajaya, infiltrated by IS

Red Shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos levelled a series of bizarre and serious allegations against Bersih, including its purported plan to surround Putrajaya and airports during its Nov 19 rally.

The allegation comes amid questions on whether the electoral watchdog would be able to convince a large number of Malaysians, who are said to be politically fatigued, to take to the streets like its previous rallies, let alone lay siege to the administrative capital.

Jamal also claimed to have been informed by reliable sources that Islamic State (IS) operatives have infiltrated Bersih.

"We heard from reliable sources that their (Bersih) end goal is to topple the government by surrounding places such as KLIA1, KLIA2 and Putrajaya.

"We (also) have reliable information that they have been infiltrated by IS. We'll leave it to the authorities to deal with it," Jamal said in a press conference at PWTC today.

Apart from this, Jamal said that Red Shirts would mobilise its members against Bersih's nationwide convoy, which commences Oct 1.

Calling it the "Red Shirts Version 2", he said: "We will go down to every flag-off location that they (Bersih) announced yesterday."

The six locations are Kota Baru, Johor Baru, Perlis, Sandakan, Miri and Lumut.

Jamal said a gathering would be held in Penang on Oct 1 to protest the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly being corrupt.

Similarly, he added that the movement would also hold a counter-rally on Nov 19 in Kuala Lumpur, and estimated a turnout of 300,000.

Consist of a multi-racial group

Meanwhile, for the gatherings at each of the Bersih convoy launch locations, he said there will be about 2,000 to 3,000 participants.

Jamal added that this time, their gathering will consist of a multi-racial group that includes Chinese, Indians as well as bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak.

"Bersih 5 is a tool and agent of the opposition to sow hatred politics against the government and elected leaders.

"Bersih 5 also does not have clear objectives, they are only bringing issues to confuse the people.

"Red Shirts V2 will defend the constitutional democracy system including the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak," he said.

For those who cannot join them at the counter-rallies, he urged them to wear red on Oct 1 as well as on every Saturday after that up to the final rally.

This echoes Bersih's call for those who cannot attend their convoy to wear yellow on the same day and also on every Saturday after that.

Malaysiakini has contacted Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah for comments.

Bersih had yesterday announced that their convoy will be launched simultaneously on Oct 1 in six locations.

The seven-week convoy will make its way across 246 cities, towns and villages, with various activities being held at the areas they are passing along the way.

The goal, according to Bersih, was to strike up a national conversation on issues linked to state-investor 1MDB and calls for the removal of Najib.

In the style of the Olympics, a symbolic torch would be brought along by the convoy, before they assembled on Nov 19 for the final Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

The red shirts had their first rally on Sept 16 last year to "defend Malay dignity", after the Bersih 4 rally calling for Najib's resignation.-Mkini