LIVE : PICTURES OF TODAY'S HIMPUN FUNCTION AT PENANG

These are the latest pictures on today's HIMPUN PENANG. We will update from time to time.








- Dr MiM


Meanwhile, Malaysiakini reports:


The Himpun rally organised by a group of Muslim NGOs kicked off in Kepala Batas today with religious musical performances, building the momentum for the expected fiery speeches by several controversial leaders.

The performances were delivered in a number of languages - Malay, English and a bit of Tamil and Thai as well.

About 1,000 people have gathered at Dewan Budi Penyayang community hall for the three-hour event - men on the right and women on the left of the stage.

The mood was festive as there were several stalls selling food and drinks and Muslim paraphernalia outside the hall, where many youths were drawn to a career-and-book exhibition.

The rally is supposed to attract 20,000 people from all over Penang and Kedah, however only a fraction has turned up so far.

Hasan Ali, the former Selangor executive councillor who was recently sacked from PAS, is due to address the rally at about 11am.

The nationwide Himpun rally - first held in Selangor in October last year - is to protest against the threat of apostasy and Christianisation among the Muslim community, which the leaders claim are currently running rampant in the country.

The Penang state government has distanced itself from the event, saying that it neither endorses the rally nor would participate in it.

[More to follow]