Before Mohd Puad Zarkashi, general-director of Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) demand Lim Kit Siang to explain Bersih rally provocations, he should first explain Red Shirt Rally provocations before he printed the booklet to extol Red Shirt Rally.
Puad Zarkashi praised the Red Shirt Rally as a historic event, a rally that was organized according to the law and rules. However, PDRM clearly did not agree with him. As a matter of fact, a total of 263 officers and 3,648 men were sent to the ground for the Red Shirt Rally on September 16. In contrast, for a rally that last for 34 hour and attracted 500,000 people to take part, the police only needed to mobilize 191 officers and 2,419 policemen and the expenditure was RM2,737,400. So, which rally was more peaceful and worth praising?
Bersih Rally is not racist. Demanding Najib Razak to step down as a Prime Minister is not a racist issue, but a demand that is getting more and more prevalent in all communities, a demand that is echoed by all races. Tun Mahathir is a leader who has openly asked Najib to step down. Is Tun Mahathir a Chinese?
On the other hand, let me remind Puad Zarkashi the violence and provocation of Red Shirt Rally.
Police have declared that three areas – Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and the area around Low Yat Plaza – were off-limits to protesters. However, a crowd of Red Shirt rally goers had gathered at the Pavilion mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang and made their way to Low Yat Plaza. A clear defiance of police order.
Not only that, Red Shirt rally protesters also attempted to breach the police barricades to enter Petaling Street. FRU even fired water cannon at the crowd outside Petaling Street. At least 2 men were arrested.
Eventually, 26 police reports were lodged against Red Shirt Rally and 15 investigation papers have been opened for offences under Penal Code, Peaceful Assembly Act, Sedition Act, and Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
So, please convince us Puad Zarkashi, how was Red Shirt Rally a rally that worth to be extolled?