KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 – A reporter Kow Gah Chie from the news portal Malaysiakini was chased away by the crowd while attempting to speak to attendees of the #Merah169 rally on Wednesday with cries of “Cina gila babi (Crazy Chinese pig)”. She said she was jeered and heckled by the crowd with forcing her to retreat to safety when she was trying to interview members of the rally at Petaling Street. She added that she just want to ask question and they got angry.
In the same time, there were two ethnic Chinese reporters were forced to withdraw from the crowd while the earlier incident was involving two press members from the Astro AEC channel and now was the news portal from Malaysiakini. The duo were removed by police after the rally-goers became agitated when asked to provide examples of how the Malays were allegedly insulted by the Chinese which it wasv a key reason for the rally.
Thousands of red shirted people were bussed into the federal capital on Wednesday morning to take part in a rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” but which has drawn grave concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.
The rally said to be in support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership which is a counter to the last month’s mammoth two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister’s for the resignation. While the Red Shirt rally which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” on Wednesday was a demonstration which organised by the martial arts group Pesaka.
