Himpun rally: Aye from S'gor Umno, nay by PAS

Selangor Umno Youth will participate in Saturday’s anti-apostasy rally, dubbed Himpun, in an effort to “champion Islam and the Malay race”, according to its chief, Engku Salleh Engku Jamal.

“... Who the organisers are is not important because the main thing is to champion Islam and defend the faith of Muslims in this country,” he was quoted as saying in a Sinar Harian report today.

The report added that some 2,000 members from Selangor Umno Youth will participate in the rally.

As for Selangor PAS, the group said it will not be taking part, in accordance with the decision reached by the party leaders last night.

"Thus, the Selangor PAS chief (Dr Abdul Rani Osman) has ordered all members in the state not to attend the rally in line with the central leadership's instructions," state PAS secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman said.

Last night, party president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party will not take part in the rally because its organisers said that the event was not politically linked.

However, Abdul Hadi stressed that dakwah (preaching) was important to strengthen the faith, it must be done with courtesy and in line with the law to maintain harmony in multi-ethnic Malaysia.

However, Selangor PKR has yet to declare its stance, stating that more discussion is required.

“I cannot elaborate further as we have not discussed the matter. We will include it in our weekly meeting this evening,” its information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei told Sinar Harian yesterday.

'Uniting Muslims'

The statements come after PAS at midnight declared that it will not join the rally out of respect for the organisers’ wish to keep it apolitical.

Himpun had yesterday denied links to ultra-right wing Malay rights group Perkasa and Senator Ezam Mohd Nor (right), who has given fiery speeches against apostasy, dismissing any political links.

The rally has received warm support from Muslim NGOs, including the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and Pertubuhan Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM).

“The programme’s purpose is to unite Muslims against any organisations that attempt to proselytise their religion (to Muslims), causing them to become apostates,” PPIM secretary-general Ma’amor Osman told the Malay daily.

Meanwhile, Himpun secretary Aminuddin Yahaya and other rally organisers have surveyed Shah Alam Stadium, the intended venue of the rally.

“We have surveyed the rally location with the stadium’s management and we hope that whatever we have planned before this will progress smoothly,” he told Sinar Harian in its report today.