'Please be rational' - Tengku Adnan tells Bersih, Red Shirts

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor reiterated that he will not allow demonstrations to take place at Dataran Merdeka this Saturday.

He said the decision, which has been stressed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), is final, adding that both Bersih 5 and Red Shirt rallies had no clear purpose.

"What exactly is not 'bersih' (clean)? Why are they demonstrating? I don't understand.

"If the elections are not clean, how come there are 80 opposition MPs in Parliament? If the system is dirty, how come the opposition can be in power in Selangor and Penang, and before this, Kedah and Perak?" he told reporters after handing over keys to buyers of Rumah Mampu Milik Wilayah Persekutuan (Rumawip) Residensi Rampai housing units here on Wednesday.

Tengku Adnan added that both parties should work with the government to solve issues and not create more problems, particularly at a time where the country is facing global economic uncertainties.

"My advice is - be it red, yellow, blue, green or purple, please be more rational," he said.

Bersih, whose colour theme is yellow, is a movement calling for electoral reform in the country.

Meanwhile, the Red Shirts alleged that Bersih is serving a foreign agenda to topple the current government and has threatened to hold a counter-rally at the same venue at the same time.

Tengku Adnan added that neither Bersih nor the Red Shirts will be allowed to hold rallies at Padang Merbok as an alternative venue due to ongoing renovation works at a rugby field there.

He also stressed that UMNO is not involved with the Red Shirts.

"I do not encourage UMNO members to join (the rally). If he wants to join as an individual, that's his problem."

"Red Shirts is not sponsored by UMNO. It has nothing to do with UMNO," he said.