300 silat group members march to Istana Negara to submit memo

Tens of thousands are expected to converge on the streets of Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to celebrate Putrajaya's decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd)

Organised by Malay-Muslim NGOS, the gathering is also supported by Umno and PAS.

Those attending will gather at three different locations – Sogo shopping mall, Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara - before marching towards Dataran Merdeka.

The gathering, which is to start at 2pm and end at 6pm, has sparked off concerns of possible racial tension but the organisers have vowed that it would be peaceful.

Malaysiakini brings you live updates of the event:

9.30am, Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan: Some 300 members of a silat group, clad in baju melayu with sampin, gather at the mosque. They will march to Istana Negara to submit a memorandum.

Gabungan Silat Pertahan Perlembagan (Pertahan) chief secretary Sahruddin Esa says it will be a peaceful march.

"Silat is like a public performance, not take sticks and hit people. We are not here to behave like thugs... We did not bring any weapons,” he adds. -Mkini