Silat group to submit a memorandum against Icerd at Istana Negara on Saturday

On Saturday, when the rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) is planned in the city centre, a "silat group" is expected to submit a memorandum against Icerd to the officials at the Istana Negara.

This was revealed by the Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim today, adding that the organiser had also obtained the approval from the Brickfields district police headquarters on Tuesday to hold the event.

"This group, which we estimate will be around 400 people, will converge at the Federal Territory mosque at 10 am. From there, they will march to Door 3 of the Istana Negara to submit a memorandum," he told reporters during a media conference at the KL police contingent headquarters.

He added that they are allowed to gather until noon.

When asked on the name of the group, Mazlan only mentioned that it's a group consists of silat practitioners.

Mazlan said police will monitor the group closely to ensure the activity adheres to the rules of assembly and the law.

Asked whether roads in the vicinity will be closed, Mazlan said that will depend on the situation on that day.

Authorities have given the green light to a larger group to hold a rally from 2pm until 6pm along Jalan Raja, in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Dataran Merdeka.

The organisers are the Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah), Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Masyarakat Malaysia (Muafakat), and Persatuan Bekas Angkatan Tentera Tidak Berpencen Malaysia (Daulat).

They had previously indicated that the rally, which is being backed by Umno and PAS, would proceed despite Putrajaya deciding not to ratify Icerd.

Instead, they said, the objective of the rally is to express thanks for the non-ratification of the treaty, and to ensure that there would be no future attempts to do so.

PAS estimates that more than half a million people will flood the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8 for the gathering.

The party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that this target can be reached should PAS successfully mobilise some 300,000 and Umno, 200,000 supporters. - Mkini