AFTER two days of unrest in Subang Jaya, Selangor, over a temple issue, PAS and Umno now appear to be in two minds over a rally on December 8 to “celebrate” Putrajaya’s decision not to ratify an anti-discrimination accord.
Questions were raised over the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) rally as racial tension in the Klang Valley spiked after two nights of rioting over the relocation of the 147-year-old Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
The rally, organised by Malay rights groups, was initially supported by Islamist party PAS and Umno, which were set against Putrajaya ratifying ICERD for fear it would strip the Malays of their rights and threaten the position of Islam in the country.
However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said yesterday the party’s central committee would decide today if it wanted to participate in the gathering.
“We want to discuss and evaluate the current situation. Right now, we have not made a decision or stand on the matter. It will be decided tonight,” Takiyuddin told The Malaysian Insight.
Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said the rally should be peaceful and held in accordance to the rules stipulated in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“If the organiser gets approval from the police, we will give it support. The rally must follow the rules,” Annuar said.
“This is why Umno wants the organiser to talk to the police and cooperate over security. This rally is not to create chaos in the country.”
Annuar said if the rally degenerates into a riot, it will defeat its purpose of highlighting the dangers of ICERD to Malay rights.
Over the last 48 hours, police have rounded up 28 suspects allegedly involved in the temple attack on Monday and rioting yesterday and early today.
More than 20 vehicles and several motorcycles were torched and damaged in the incidents.
The incidents caused unease among Malaysians, with some questioning if the rally on December 8 should be allowed to go on.
The organiser of the rally, Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah), however, is adamant about going ahead with the event.
Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya said he was aware there were quarters trying to link the riots at the temple to the ICERD rally.
“The temple issue has nothing to do with ICERD or anything else. If anything, it is between the developer and the temple management,” Aminuddin told The Malaysian Insight.
“I don’t see why we should stop it or postpone it to another time. Our rally is to celebrate the success in stopping Putrajaya from ratifying ICERD. It is a thanksgiving, not a riot.” – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Icerd rally: Umno Youth takes pre-emptive step, gathers lawyers
Umno Youth has set up a special legal task force of more than 30 lawyers to pre-empt any possible legal complications arising from the planned rally on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) on Dec 8.
The team would provide legal advice to the rally organisers and those attending the demonstration, especially in the event of any illegal incident, Umno Youth’s Young Lawyers Cluster chairperson Nik Saiful Adli Burhan (photo) said in an Utusan Online report yesterday.
He said the team comprises members of Umno Youth’s Young Lawyers Cluster, student group Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) and Kelantan Lawyers and Intellectual Action Organisation.
“This legal team is important to ensure the peaceful gathering is under control and follows all the regulations set by the authorities,” Nik Saiful was quoted as saying in a statement.
He added that Umno Youth was backing the rally, which was organised by a group of Islamic NGOs called Gerakan Pembela Ummah.
The rally is also being backed by Umno and PAS.
“Despite the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issuing a statement on its decision not to ratify Icerd, I believe the process was not carried out according to formality, even though the decision involved the government’s foreign policy,” Nik Saiful is reported as saying.
Many Islamic groups and opposition politicians objected to the government’s initial consideration to ratify Icerd, citing fears it would jeopardise the position of Malays and Islam as per Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
This stemmed from the statement made by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the UN general assembly in September that Malaysia would ratify all remaining human rights conventions.
PAS and Umno then declared that a massive anti-Icerd rally would take place in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8.
However, the Prime Minister’s Office announced last Friday that the government had decided againstratifying the convention.
Despite this, organisers have vowed to go ahead with the rally but said it would instead be one in support and celebration of the government’s latest decision. – MKINI
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / MKINI
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