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:

'Praise prophet instead of provocative slogans'

10.30am, Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan: Members of the silat group commence their march to Istana Negara, which is located some 2km away.

They recite the 'selawat' (poem to praise Prophet Muhammad). The group's chief secretary Sahruddin Esa urges the members to recite the 'selawat' instead of hurling provocative slogans.

PAS unit amal deploys 2,000 members

10.10am: PAS unit amal will deploy 2,000 members for the gathering, according to Harakah Online.

The unit's director Mohd Nazree Mohd Aris says 400 of them will manage traffic in the surrounding areas, 190 will oversee medical needs while the rest will handle security and prevent threats of provocation.

10.00am: The Star reports that some 5,000 students nationwide will join the gathering. This is due to unhappiness over the monthly deduction scheme for student loans.

“We are not happy with the recent developments in PTPTN,” says Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis) president Muhammad Faizuddin Mohd Zai.

The daily also reports that safety concerns and closure of roads in relation to the anti-Icerd gathering has led many businesses in the area to close for the day.

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