Undaunted, Khairy says July 9 march still on

(The Malaysian Insider) – Umno Youth will not let the withholding of police permission dissuade it from holding its July 9 rally to counter Bersih.

Instead, movement chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the rally was now growing larger, with MIC Youth and PPP members set to join its ranks.

MCA Youth has opted out, however.

Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is planning a massive rally on the day to push for electoral reforms, with PAS aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly.

Aside from the Umno Youth-led assembly, Malay rights group Perkasa is also planning a separate counter-protest.

Authorities maintain they will deny permits to all three and have repeatedly warned they will treat the rallies as illegal assemblies.

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 cannons.