By Wong Teck Chi Jun 16, 11 | MalaysiaKini
Umno Youth today resolved to hold a major street rally that will coincide with the Bersih 2.0 movement’s rally on July 9.
Like the Bersih 2.0 movement, Umno Youth seeks to march to the Istana Negara.
But while Bersih 2.0 said it is rallying to call for electoral reforms, the Umno Youth rally seeks to support the current electoral system.
“We are supporting the present electoral system and want to work with the (Election Commission) to improve it further,” Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said told Malaysiakini.
The matter was decided during the Umno Youth exco meeting this afternoon.
Khairy said that among others, Umno Youth was concerned about allegations that opposition parties are “transferring voters”.
He said that Umno Youth will not be joining the Bersih 2.0 rally because they feel that this group was supporting the opposition parties.
Asked if this was a counter-rally against Bersih 2.0, Khairy replied: “This has nothing to do with Bersih. We want to make our stand on democracy”.
Will apply for permit
Asked if it was appropriate for Umno Youth to call for such a rally in view of both Bersih 2.0 and Perkasa’s declaration they would hold marches on the same day, Khairy said: “It is up to the police to sort (that) out”.
Khairy said that Umno Youth will be applying for a police permit, but qualified that he was unsure of the movement would ultimately get one.
On details of the march such as the rally points, Khairy said this would be announced later.
Bersih 2.0 is a coalition of 62 groups who insist that their movement is led purely by civil society leaders and thus does not side with any political party.
In late 2007, the first Bersih rally (above) saw about 40,000 people from all walks of life marching to Istana Negara in support of meaningful electoral reforms to level the playing field.
Soon after Bersih 2.0’s announcement of its plans for July 9, however, Perkasa said it would hold a counter-rally, purportedly to prevent the Bersih 2.0 marchers from causing mischief.