About 200 members of the Red Shirts movement led by Jamal Md Yunos held a demonstration demanding the close of the news portal. Jamal is head of the Sungai Besar Umno division.

Asked about the protest by reporters at a press conference at Selangor Umno headquarters today, Annuar responded: “Why ask me? The Red Shirts have nothing to do with Umno.”

He said Jamal had never consulted Umno regarding the Red Shirts demonstrations. “That is not Umno. That is Jamal,” he said.

Yesterday’s demonstration came in the wake of reports about leaked documents of the Open Society Foundations started by hedge fund billionaire George Soros, in which Malaysiakini was mentioned.

Government supporters have accused the OSF of attempting to overthrow the government but Malaysiakini stated it only received a grant from the OSF in 2011 for its video unit KiniTV to produce news bulletins and documentaries about Sarawak.

Last week, Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin said members of the wing could take part in a Red Shirts rally planned for later this month, as long as they did not break any laws.