A Bersatu lawmaker has criticised the organisers of yesterday’s rally in support of Palestine for discouraging participants from chanting “takbir” (Allahu Akbar).
According to Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, this violated “3R” (issues related to race, religion and royalty).
“This is 3R. By accusing whoever chants the takbir as an extremist.
“Why were demonstrators prevented from chanting takbir? There was even a minister and the prime minister’s daughter at the event.
“Why is this issue being ignored and not raised?” Wan Fayhsal (above) asked during a press conference in Parliament this morning.
However, the organiser Viva Palestina Malaysia chairperson Musa Mohd Noor said although there was no ban, participants were told not to isolate non-Muslims.
“We (VPM) made an official statement that (the rally) is for a multiracial and multi-religious community. We want everyone to be involved in the chants, so if you (chant) the takbir, then you are isolating the non-Muslims in the crowd.
“(Attendees who insist on chanting the takbir) are people who can be quite conservative and extremist. I think they come from a background of conservatism (where the Israel-Palestine war) is perceived as being all about Muslims and the Jewish (community).
“I did not make any mention of stopping takbir chants, but the ground rules (of the rally) were very clear from the start. They think they can express their Islamism, but VPM is respectful of other religious groups,” he told Scoop, adding that a statement on the matter will be issued soon.
Also present at the gathering at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur were Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Malaysiakini has contacted Musa for further comment.
More criticism
Musa also faced criticism on social media for ordering a protester to remove a poster degrading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, he reportedly stood by the decision, claiming that the poster in question was considered "provocative" by VPM's security team.
"(The poster) did not reflect our manners or decorum in VPM whereby we maintain our standards of ethics, even when emotions run high,” he said.
Musa also denied other allegations that he labelled demonstrators holding up Netanyahu posters as "devils" and "Zionists".
"I didn’t say he was a Zionist. I said we should not drop to the level of Zionist discourse. We are people of the heavens, we are Muslims (with) high standards of manners propagated by our prophet.
“The prophet was oppressed, yet he maintained his language, attitude and decorum," he was quoted as saying.
A demonstrator who made the allegation against Musa claimed that his poster depicting Netanyahu was "not political" but merely stated that the Israeli prime minister was a war criminal.
"Why are we protecting the feelings of the United States and Israel? The demonstration was only a show (for organisers) to show that they were part of the scene.
“Non-Muslims should be educated to understand that the takbir is a holy chant for Muslims that aims to unite. Organisers attempted to bring a humanitarian perspective, but they ended up being condescending to Islam.
“This was the most toothless Palestine solidarity gathering in the world," the demonstrator posted on Facebook.
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