Ibrahim Ali a coward

Nurul Izzah Anwar today called Datuk Ibrahim Ali a coward for threatening the Chinese community and warning them against showing up for the Bersih rally on July 9.

“Threats like that are only issued by cowards. It’s mind-boggling that the authorities have failed to reprimand him accordingly.

“While I believe that we should respect the right of all Malaysians to speak freely, this freedom is not something to be abused or to be used irresponsibly. As such, I am truly disappointed by the insinuations and veiled language used by Datuk Ibrahim Ali, with regards to the Bersih 2.0 rally happening this July 9,” the PKR vice-president told The Malaysian Insider.

Malay rights group Perkasa kicked off its Bersih 2.0 counter-protest in Kampung Baru yesterday by burning images of Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and issuing a warning to the Chinese to stay indoors as “anything could happen”.

Ibrahim, who had appointed himself “war general”, said if electoral reform coalition Bersih goes through with its July 9 rally, he will not be held responsible for any untoward incidents which may occur.

“Imagine if chaos erupts. If the Bersih rally is not cancelled... I believe the Chinese community will have to stock up on food,” he had said.

Today, Nurul Izzah said Malaysians should not be intimidated by Ibrahim’s threats.

“Let us not be afraid to stand up for what we believe in. Let us not be stopped, for the sake of a better Malaysia,” the Lembah Pantai MP said.

PKR Information Chief Chua Tian Chang opted for a more sarcastic response to Ibrahim’s threats targeting the Chinese.

“Thanks for his concern for Chinese. If [anything] would happen, I suppose all could be affected, right? But Datuk Ibrahim just worries for safety of Chinese, very considerate,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component parties and activists are gearing up to march on July 9, the second such rally by election watchdog Bersih.

The first rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the capital’s street, before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannon.

The 2007 rally has been credited for the PR’s record gains in Election 2008, where the opposition pact was swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats.

PAS has promised to bring some 300,000 protestors this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the next general election, expected to be called within a year.

Perkasa has pledged to send 20 buses from each of the 10 peninsular Malaysian states, in addition to supporters from 164 other non-governmental organisations.

Umno Youth has also said it will march on July 9 to counter the Bersih rally.