Red-shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos has claimed that 300,000 people have pledged to rally against Bersih on Nov 19.

If true, this would be three times the crowd that Bersih 4 managed to pull at its peak during its two-day rally in August last year.

"We will not hesitate to do anything to stop the Bersih rally.

"For me, our struggle will continue even if we are bathed in blood," Jamal said at a press conference at the Selangor Umno headquarters last night.

Jamal had made similar remarks at a rally in Kapar last Saturday and clarified that being "bathed in blood" meant the red-shirts getting covered in their own blood, not that of others.

At last night's event, the Sungai Besar Umno chief also said he had submitted requests to both the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall to use Dataran Merdeka, Padang Merbok, and the surrounding areas on Nov 19.

Earlier, some 60 Malay rights groups pledged their support to Jamal's cause.

Their spokesperson, Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Warisan Ketuanan Melayu Malaysia (Pewaris) president Jaafar Shaari (photo) said they supported Jamal because they wanted the country to remain peaceful.

"We are not here because we were paid, we are here voluntarily to say that what Jamal is doing, is also what we want to do.

"We don't like our country to be threatened and made chaotic, because our country has been peaceful all this while," Jaafar said.

Meanwhile, Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, who left the event before the press conference, repeatedly reminded those who wanted to join Jamal's cause to obey the law.

"Respect the law, nobody is above the law," Noh said in his speech, jesting that even Jamal had been arrested before.

Jamal was detained overnight last week over an alleged Facebook posting which reportedly threatened violence.

The Umno man is being investigated for defamation and criminal intimidation under the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act as well as Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.

Meanwhile, inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday said police received a notice from the red shirts group three days ago to hold a gathering at Dataran Merdeka this Nov 5.

He added they have not received any notice from the organisers of Bersih.