TMJ FUNDED ROME STATUTE RALLY? ORGANIZER UMMAH DENIES ‘BASELESS ACCUSATION’ – EVEN AS POLICE TO LAUNCH PROBE ON RALLY WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL

THE organisers of yesterday’s Malay rights rally said they have no clue as to how posters and banners carrying the images of Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Iskandar found their way to rally goers.

Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) told The Malaysian Insight that they did not communicate with the Johor palace or the crown prince.

“TMJ did not fund the programme yesterday. We have never been in contact. If people are saying that then they are making baseless accusation,” said Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahya.

Many participants held up posters of Tunku Ismail during the rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday with slogans that they will defend the royal institution.

The participants had told the media that the posters were signs of protest against the government and to express support for the royals.

It was also reported that participants were given placards of Tunku Ismail when the rally took place at the vicinity of Masjid Jamek.

According to Aminuddin, the rally goers had every right to support the palace, and as the organiser, he could not stop participants from holding the posters.

“Ummah did not provide the posters or the placards. I am not sure who brought those items,” he said.

Aminuddin said the posters were clear signs that the people are against the ratification of Rome Statute.

“It shows that the people are not happy with the way Pakatan Harapan is dealing with the royal institution. They expressed their concern and unhappiness by joining the rally,” he said.

Asked to comment on the upcoming rally to protest against the Rome Statute on June 15, Aminuddin disclosed that he had no knowledge of the event.

However, he said that Ummah will be supporting the rally.

“If it is good for the people, we will support,” he said.

Sekretariat Suara Rakyat chairman Lokman Noor Adam today said the rally planned for next month will be called “Himpunan Sejuta Umat Bantah Statut Rom 1506” and will be held at Dataran Merdeka.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya would not ratifythe Rome Statute due to “political confusion” surrounding the issue.

“This is not because we are against it, but because of the political confusion over what it entails, caused by people with vested interests.”

On March 4, Malaysia signed the treaty and submitted it to the UN secretary-general. The country is allowed to withdraw before next month.

Last November, the government U-turned on its pledge to ratify ICERD following backlash from certain quarters that feared it would affect Malays’ special position and privileges. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

Police to call up organisers of rally at Jalan TAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will call up the organisers of the ‘Rally To Defend the Sovereignty of Islam and the Constitution’ at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here yesterday, which was said to have taken place without the approval of the authorities.

Without elaborating, Dang Wangi District Police Chief ACP Mohd Fahmi Visunathan Abdullah told Bernama that the organisers would be called up in the near future to assist investigations.

Yesterday, he was reported to have said that the notice from the organisers of the rally opposite a shopping centre was incomplete as the organisers, Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) had failed to submit the notice of approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

The rally, which was reported to have been held following several recent issues, including the ratification of the Rome Statute began from Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumur and ended at 3.25pm due to heavy rain.

Mohd Fahmi said so far no police reports had been made against any individual who spoke at the rally. – Bernama

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT / BERNAMA