(Sept 15): Barisan Nasional component parties have agreed to disagree on the September 16 “red shirt” rally after Umno's BN partners voiced their objection to it at the coalition’s Supreme Council meeting.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that BN components had “agreed to disagree” over their stance on the “red shirt” rally, dubbed “Himpunan Kebangkitan Maruah Melayu”.

“There are many who have voiced their concern over the rally, and as BN chairman I respect their opinions.

“The component parties had voiced out many opinions and we had decided to agree to disagree on it,” Najib said after the meeting in the capital tonight.

Two component parties – Chinese-based MCA and Indian-based MIC – had publicly voiced their objections to the rally prior to the meeting while Umno refused to endorse it while saying it would not stop party members from joining it.

The martial arts group – National Federation of Silat Associations (Pesaka) – is organising the gathering now dubbed the “red shirt” rally in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

The rally is reportedly to counter Bersih 4 last month, where the majority of participants were non-Malays.

The organiser also reportedly wanted to express anger over incidents during Bersih 4, where some participants stepped on the pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Najib, however, said the rally must be held within the ambit of law and no “seditious banners” must be displayed during the rally.

“They must respect the police’s orders.”

Najib also revealed that all BN leaders would be in Kota Kinabalu on that day for Sept 16 Malaysia Day celebrations.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that a “majority” of the component parties disagreed with the rally.

“We reiterate our position that the timing of the rally is not right, and contains racial undertones.

“It can jeopardise racial relations and can affect economic growth due to the tension.”

MIC president Datuk Seri S.Subramaniam also said the party had given a “strong” statement condemning the rally. – The Malaysian Insider