Jamal said his lawyers will seek the help of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block access to the offending social media posts. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — The leader of the "red shirts" movement that clashed with police on September 16 has formed a ten-member legal team to trawl social media in search of individuals spreading false news against him.

Coalition of Malay NGOs Chairman Datuk Jamal Md Yunos said the team will gather all allegations posted and spread by social media users, after which he will lodge a police report and take legal action, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia quoted him as saying.

The Umno Sungai Besar division chief said his lawyers will also seek the help of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block access to the offending social media posts.

"I will not negotiate with those who create and spread allegations," he said in the report, which did not specify the allegations that have riled up Jamal.

"I am not the least bit worried because my struggle is to uphold the dignity and encourage the Malays to fight against the work of the opposition, especially DAP which has gone overboard," he added.

Jamal claimed that the allegations thrown at him likely came from parties that were unhappy with the "success" of the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu or United People's Rally last Wednesday.

"This rally carried a worrying message for them and because of that, they are forced to use dirty tactics to smear me on social media. I hope the public are not duped by these allegations," he said.

Thousands of red shirted people were bussed into the federal capital on Wednesday, which was also Malaysia Day, for the rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or the United People’s Assembly, but which caused concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.

The protest was also marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, with one attendee recorded calling a reporter “Crazy Chinese pig”, among other insults.

A pocket of rally participants led by Jamal also clashed with riot police in Petaling Street, forcing the authorities to fire water cannons to disperse the crowd.