KELANTAN MUFTI’S ADVICE FALLS ON DEAF EARS: DESPITE GRAVE SECURITY RISKS, DEFIANT PAS INSISTS ON HOLDING DEC 8 RALLY

KOTA BARU: Despite objections from many quarters, including the Kelantan Mufti, Pas will proceed with its planned rally against the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on Dec 8 in Kuala Lumpur.
The Islamist party’s vice-president, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, said Pas respects others’ views on the matter, but stressed that they have their own reasons for holding the gathering.
“We respect the Mufti’s view on the issue, but (we) have our own opinion on the matter,” he added.
Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said yesterday that the anti-ICERD rally should be scrapped, given the tense situation in the country following the riots at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Selangor earlier this week.

He also pointed out that the gathering is redundant, as the government has officially announced it will not ratify the United Nations convention.
But Mohd Amar begs to differ.
“As what Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said previously, the incident in Subang Jaya was neither a racial nor a religious issue. Therefore, (it is not relevant) and Pas will proceed with our plan (for the rally),” he told reporters after delivering his weekly ceramah at Medan Ilmu here, today.
Mohd Amar, who is also deputy Kelantan Menteri Besar, said special prayers will be held during the gathering which he expects to attract 1 million people.
“The Kelantan Mufti suggested (that) if the rally (must be held, it) can be changed to a ‘peace gathering’ with the performance of special prayers. (So) Pas will hold prayers during the rally,” he added.
NST