Malaysiakini reporter Kow Gah Chie is seen at the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' rally in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — A reporter was chased away by the crowd while attempting to speak to attendees of the #Merah169 rally today with cries of “Cina gila babi (Crazy Chinese pig)”.

Kow Gah Chie from the news portal Malaysiakini was trying to interview members of the rally at Petaling Street when she was jeered and heckled by the crowd, forcing her to retreat to safety.

“I was just asking question. They got angry,” Kow said after she was chased off.

This is the second time today that ethnic Chinese reporters were forced to withdraw from the crowd, following an earlier incident involving two press members from the Astro AEC channel.

The duo were removed by police after the rally-goers became agitated when asked to provide examples of how the Malays were allegedly insulted by the Chinese, a key reason for the rally.

Thousands of red shirted people were bussed into the federal capital this morning to take part in a rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or the United People’s Assembly, but which has drawn grave concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.

The “red shirts” first gathered at several points in the city, including Kompleks Kraf Malaysia in Jalan Conlay, the Putra World Trade Centre and the National Mosque before marching through major roads to converge at Padang Merbok near Parliament.

The rally, said to be in support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership, is a counter to last month’s mammoth two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister’s resignation.

The ruling Malay party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, but has not prohibited its members from participating in today’s demonstration organised by martial arts group Pesaka.