Hold ICERD gathering in mosque, Muhyiddin tells organiser

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says special prayers can be held peacefully in a mosque by the organiser. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has again advised the organiser of an anti-rights treaty rally to not hold the gathering at Dataran Merdeka on Dec 8.

He said this as the government has decided not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

“If the organiser wants to give thanks (because Putrajaya has decided not to ratify the treaty), it would be better if it is held in a mosque where special prayers can be held peacefully,” he said at a press conference here.

Last week, Gerakan Pembela Ummah, a coalition of Muslim NGOs, said it would still go ahead with the rally, initially organised to protest against the ICERD.

However, the coalition’s head, Aminuddin Yahya, said the gathering would be held to “celebrate” the government’s decision not to ratify the treaty.

On Friday, Putrajaya said the government would not ratify ICERD, saying it was committed to the “social contract” that was agreed upon by representatives of all races.

Critics had said ratifying ICERD would undermine the special position of the Malays, including provisions to allow quotas in public institutions, as spelt out in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. - FMT