PETALING JAYA: A group of former servicemen today questioned how the rally against the ratification of the International Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) had been called a “thanksgiving” gathering to show gratitude to the government for not signing the United Nations treaty.
In a statement, the National Patriots Association (Patriot) said it was clear from the speeches given at the rally that the organisers had “no intention” of thanking the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government for its decision not to ratify the ICERD.
Instead, it said, they had turned it into a “political rally filled with speeches with racial and religious undertones”.
Patriot president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji also said the rally had failed to build racial unity and harmony between the different ethnic groups.
“Instead of rallying the various races into one united Malaysian people, the rally was all about the supremacy of the Malays and Islam that they claimed have been eroded and are apparently under threat by the new PH government.
“Even the prayer recited by the ustaz at the close of the rally was inappropriate to the occasion. He prayed for the PH government’s stay in power to be short-lived and for all those who voted for the PH government to cast their vote for Barisan Nasional/Umno during the next election.
“A prayer should be for peace and harmony, and one with political undertones has no place in religion.”
Some 50,000 people turned up at the rally in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday despite the drizzle.
The event saw speeches by PAS and Umno leaders such as Abdul Hadi Awang, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
Hadi, who is PAS president, voiced gratitude to the government for deciding not to ratify the ICERD but raised concerns that PH would reverse its decision.
“If they (PH) dare to bring it to Parliament again, we will call millions to take to the streets as this is also a peaceful democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile Zahid, who is Umno president and the opposition leader, said Malay Muslims would rise against the government of the day if their rights and privileges were tampered with.
Arshad said this had been the “mantra” of Umno and PAS leaders in the past in their efforts to stay in power.
He urged political leaders to stop making speeches with racial and religious undertones which he said could cause fear and hatred among otherwise peace-loving people.
“Pray for love, peace and harmony to prevail for the benefit of our country and future generations,” he said. - FMT
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