Is Jamal's 'bathe in blood' just words too, IGP asked

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar has been asked if he will haul up Umno Sungai Besar chief Jamal Md Yunos for his "bathe in blood" comment, or again wave it off.

"I wish to ask Khalid if the police will pick Jamal up for questioning and investigation for his 'bathed in blood' remarks.

"Or will Khalid say that it was again just a 'war of words' from Jamal, just like how he dismissed Jamal’s previous declaration of war against Bersih 5 as nothing more than a 'war of words'?," said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in a statement today.

On Thursday, Jamal at a press conference at the Selangor Umno headquarters vowed to stop the upcoming Bersih 5 rally.

"We will not hesitate to do anything to stop the Bersih rally.... For me, our struggle will continue even if we are bathed in blood," he was reported saying.

Kok said it was unwise for Khalid to play down such comments from Jamal as the red shirts movement that he leads has had a history of violence.

"Khalid missed an important point - that the red shirts group have carried out violent actions against Bersih's road show.

"Similarly, although Jamal had made similar remarks at a rally in Kapar last Saturday and clarified that being 'bathed in blood' meant the red shirts getting covered in their own blood, not that of others, the police should view what he said with seriousness," she said.

Kok said she hoped Khalid will initiate an investigation over the latest comment.

She also criticised Umno for not reining in Jamal.

"It is so disappointing and even irresponsible for the Umno leadership to keep silent about Jamal and Umno members’ involvement in the red shirts' activities against Bersih.

"The key and basic question is not whether Jamal or the Umno members are involved in the red shirts group in their personal capacities, but whether Umno allows its members to carry out such activities that threaten the democratic rights of the minority to peacefully assemble," she said.

The Bersih 5 rally on Nov 19 was organised to call for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's resignation of the 1MDB scandal, amidst other demands for electoral and democratic reforms.

Jamal has vowed to confront the rally on that day.- Mkini