“If there was an incident, I on behalf of the Red Shirts, apologise to the reporters,” he was quoted as saying. “I apologise if there was any damage or injury, and so on, we will be responsible.”

Reporters and a videographer of The Star and a reporter with Malaysiakini were harrassed by anti-Bersih protestors yesterday while they were covering the Bersih election reform group’s road convoy in the Kuala Selangor area.

Previous Bersih convoys in other areas have come under harrassment from the pro-Umno Red Shirts movement, and Jamal had previously said he would organise a counter-demonstration in Kuala Lumpur if the Bersih 5 street rally is held on Nov 19.

Yesterday, a group of about 20 people on motorcycles, some dressed in red, heckled and manhandled several journalists.

The National Union of Journalists has condemned yesterday’s incident and urged the police to immediately arrest the leader of the group.

“It is clear that this group is too emotional in their actions, until they are not able to think clearly like rational persons,” said its executive committee in a statement.

“NUJ hopes the police will arrest the group and bring them to court,” it said, adding that the leader of the group should also be arrested immediately.