Ali Tinju cries innocent and denied issue 'threat' against Maria Chin

Gerakan Merah leader Mohd Ali Baharom denied he issued threats against Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

Mohd Ali, better known as Ali Tinju, is under police investigation for criminal intimidation after he was quoted as saying Maria "may no longer walk on this earth", following her announcement of the Nov 19 Bersih 5 rally.

"I am innocent. I did not finish my sentence (and the media) does not possess any recording or video which quoted me issuing such (threats)," he told The Sun.

"My comments were not a criminal threat… I will not retract my statement and there is no need for me to apologise," he added.

This comes after Maria said she feared for her safety, and questioned why police could instruct DAP MP Jeff Ooi to surrender, while Mohd Ali walks free.

Ooi was yesterday arrested over a tweet on recently deceased PAS spiritual leader Haron Din and released on police bail.




Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said Maria is also being investigated for allegedly conducting activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Mohd Ali said he will co-operate with police investigations.

He will also continue with plans to conduct a "butt exercise" in front of Maria's home if the Nov 19 rally is not called off.

He had in 2012 led a group of former armed forces personnel in doing calisthetics, which involved directing their posteriors to the home of then Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, to protest Bersih's plan to hold a rally demanding electoral reform.

Mohd Ali also challenged Maria to stand against him in Bandar Tun Razak in the next general election, The Sun reported.

The Nov 19 rally in Kuala Lumpur is to demand for clean government, clean election, strengthening of parliamentary democracy, empowerment of Sabah and Sarawak and the right to dissent.

The Bersih 4 rally last year attracted more than 100,000 people, and among others called for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak amid corruption allegations.

Najib has consistently denied abusing public funds.

Source -MKini-