A Bersih protestor shouts slogans during a mass rally that called for electoral reform in Kuala Lumpur in this file photo. Bersih is holding mass rallies in three Malaysian cities on Nov. 19 to demand scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak resign. (Photo by AFP)
A pro-government group in Malaysia is threatening to cause chaos against a series of mass protest rallies scheduled for Nov. 19 that are calling for electoral reform and for the country's scandal-plagued prime minister to step down.
The pro-state and largely Malay group that calls itself "Red Shirts" say they will meet and oppose supporters of the electoral reform group Bersih who will be protesting against the government in the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Red Shirt leader Jamal Yunos has threatened there could be a repeat of the racial riots that occurred in 1969 between Malays and ethnic Chinese, which left hundreds dead.
In the lead up to Nov. 19 there has already been a series of incidents where Red Shirts have attacked Bersih supporters during peaceful events promoting the rally.
Much of that violence took place in full view of the police heightening concerns that the authorities will not act against attempts by the Red Shirts to cause chaos during the rallies.
Many of Bersih supporters are ethnic Indian or Chinese.
Najib, who faces an election early next year, warned of an imminent physical clash between the two opposing groups during the rallies.
"If one side wants to protest and the side that wants to protect the government is compelled to come out... but I don't want any physical clash," Najib said according to national news agency Bernama.
"Even the so-called Arab Spring was heralded as an era of change but, instead, it brought misery to the people who were involved," said the prime minister who is tainted by the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund scandal.
Mahathir Mohamad urges on rally
Wearing Bersih's signature yellow T-shirt, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad on Nov. 16 urged Malaysians to join the rally.
Mahathir told Radio Bangsar Utama that his party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), fully supports Bersih's calls for electoral reform while repeating fears that the government could crackdown on Bersih.
Eric Paulsen, the executive director of Lawyers for Liberty, said that past police inaction has created a tense situation while stressing that Bersih's rallies will be peaceful.
"It's an issue of how serious are the Red Shirts, whether they really are going to cause trouble and whether the police will be able to stop them or whether the police wants to stop them," said Paulsen.
Observers say more evidence of collusion between in the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), the senior member of Malaysia's coalition government, and the Red Shirts has surfaced.
The latest example being a letter circulating on social media sites that a UMNO chapter in Malacca called for a meeting to plan how to stop Bersih.
Bersih secretariat manager Mandeep Singh said that while there is concern about the Red Shirt leader's promises of violence, the protest's organizers would leave it to the police to manage.
"We have mentioned from day one that we are a peaceful demonstration," Singh said.
With four mass rallies conducted since Bersih came into existence in 2008, organizers are confident that they can keep the upcoming rally trouble free.
"We are demanding for institutional reform, demanding for free and fair elections and we are not worried about pushing for our demands," said Singh.
"We have 1,400 marshals and security personnel to manage the crowd. If there is any agent provocateurs we will immediately hand them over to the police," he said.
"We are not worried, we are just asking for a better Malaysia," Singh added.
