Something 'fishy' about Himpun, don't you think?

Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said he is suspicious of the much hyped-up Himpun anti-apostasy rally scheduled for Saturday, pointing to the "double standards" practised by the police in granting the organisers a permit in double-quick time, while outlawing free-and-fair polls NGO, Bersih.

“It is clear that somebody from the top echelon is behind this,” Mujahid was reported as saying. "I would like to record my resentment towards the double standards of the police in issuing permits for the event but denying Bersih the right to organize a rally even though the size was much smaller.

Himpun hopes to gather One Million Muslims to its event, and despite the huge targeted crowd-size and sudden notice, there has not been a single murmur from the police of crowd control dangers, traffic congestion inconvenience or public safety and order - all of which had been cited as reasons to stop Bersih.

Born from the ashes of Jais-DUMC

Himpun practically blew in from out of the blue after the Selangor Sultan issued a controversial ruling on the Jais-DUMC issue.

Insisting that Muslims were being threatened, Umno-linked Muslim NGOs announced they planned a mammoth apostasy rally. Selangor Umno leaders especially Ezam Mohd Noor, PKR turncoat Zulkifli Noordin and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Anwar have been among the most active in garnering support for Himpun.

“I feel there is something not right about the planned congregation although the effort to mobilize one million Muslim is not a question but the nature of such effort could risk the racial and religious harmony in this country,” said Mujahid, highlighting several key reasons to doubt the "sincerity" of the Himpun organizers.

According to Mujahid, the rally was taking place at a time when the relationships between the various races in Malaysia were at an all time low. An exchange of "attacks" will not help establish inter-religious harmony in the country, the PAS leader added.

Furthermore, he is wary that the rally will be open to exploitation by certain people whose intention is to spark inter-religious tension.

Desperate Umno goes all out for a piece of the pie

Apart from that, Mujahid said the good name of Islam will be tarnished and the rally may perpetuate a false impression that Islam is a religion that promotes hatred.

To the PAS leader, there is nothing wrong with the theme of the rally - protect aqidah (faith) - but the big question remains, wouldn't an interfaith dialogue be a better option to reaffirm the Islamic stance?

“It could be worse if behind the effort are desperados with evil intention to stay afloat with power by instigating tension,” said Mujahid, who is also a PAS central committee member.

Malaysia Chronicle