HOLD special thanksgiving prayers in mosques nationwide instead of a rally against an anti-discrimination accord on December 8, said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today.
He said solat hajat and doa selamat would be more appropriate as the government has already decided not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
He said this in reference to plans by Malay rights groups, Umno and PAS, to hold a rally on ICERD on December 8 in Kuala Lumpur.
He added even its organisers agreed that the rally was no longer to object ICERD but instead to celebrate the government’s decision not to ratify the UN convention.
“As such, just offer prayers in mosques. Offer thanksgiving prayers. Pray for the safety of the nation,” he said at a press conference today.
However, he said the government would still allow the rally to go on if proper procedures were followed.
“If they insist on holding the rally, we will look at the provisions under the relevant laws and approve (it) if everything is in order.
“But it would be better if they don’t hold the rally,” he added.
He said scrapping the rally would also save the organisers money.
Yesterday, Umno and PAS appeared to be in two minds over the rally following racial tensions in the Klang Valley 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 Malays of their rights and threaten the position of Islam in the country. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Zahid among 9 called in to give statements, says IGP
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was among nine individuals called by police to give statements over remarks touching on sensitive religious and racial issues that went viral on social media.- THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun today said out of the nine, four, including Zahid, had given their statements.
He said this after launching the book Proof and Prosecution and a handbook on criminal investigation involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive agents in Kuala Lumpur today.
On November 23, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said nine individuals, comprising political leaders and bloggers, would be called soon to give their statements to facilitate police investigations.
Zahid and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy were among nine individuals called by police to give their statements over their remarks on sensitive religious and racial issues that went viral on social media.
The seven others were Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Azwanddin Hamzah; Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong; Tras assemblyman Chow Yu Hui; Gabungan 3 chairman Ragvinder Singh and its deputy chairman Amran Ahmad Nor; and, bloggers Lau Shan Thean and Muhamad Edi Mohamad Riyas or Edi Rejang. – Bernama
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / BERNAMA
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