KUALA LUMPUR – The infamous Red Shirt movement that is linked to Umno has emerged from its years-long hiatus with a clear message to party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – resign or they will take to the streets.
The group’s information chief Ariffin Abu Bakar said this follows Barisan Nasional’s (BN) poor performance in the just-concluded 15th general election (GE15), which was held as a result of multiple pressure from Zahid himself.
“No other party had pushed the government to hold an election, but our own president. Now, look what has happened,” he told reporters at Umno headquarters here today.
He was joined by over a dozen supporters clad in their familiar red shirts.
Ariffin also said the movement believes the best partnership to take Umno forward should be one led by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Khairy.
“If the deputy president (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) wants to stay, he must show that he is capable of leading Umno. He cannot be weak.”
With rumour of the party’s top leadership supposedly leading a negotiation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a coalition government, Ariffin said Zahid should honourably resign as Umno president immediately.
He said the result of the election is a clear indication that Malaysians reject Umno and BN leaders who are embroiled in corruption and court cases.
He also expressed shock at Zahid’s decision to drop several Umno warlords from contesting in the election and placing Khairy Jamaluddin in an impossible seat to win in Sg Buloh, warning that the movement “will not keep quiet”.
Asked to clarify what he meant, Ariffin said: “Perhaps the Red Shirts will mobilise just like how we went against Bersih.”
“Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos may not be with us today, as he is not well, but I’m still alive, and I will revive the red shirts!”
Jamal had previously led the movement, which was originally backed by the National Silat Federation (Pesaka), and conducted a series of rallies starting from a demonstration in front of Sogo, Kuala Lumpur in response to a rally planned by electoral reform group Bersih.
The group was most famously remembered for conducting a counter-rally on the same day as the Bersih 5 street demonstration on November 19, 2016, at the heart of the city. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022
