BEFORE SWOLLEN-HEADED UMNO-PAS THINK THEY HAVE WON GE15 WITH SUPPORTERS PACKING PWTC TO WITNESS THEIR UNION – TAKE A LOOK AT SARAWAK, WHERE OVER 25,000 CHRISTIANS WILL BRAVE THE HAZE TO CELEBRATE PENTECOSTAL NIGHT

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s home at the Putra World Trade Centre here was filled this morning by members of the Malay nationalist party and those of PAS, all jostling to view the signing of an unprecedented charter for an alliance between the two former rivals.

The occasion had required the two natural rivals to set aside decades of enmity born of distrust and betrayal, with PAS going so far as to forgive Umno for the 1985 Memali Incident that had once been considered an eternal barrier between the two.

Dressed in the white that is common among both parties, thousands of Umno and PAS members sat in every available corner of the Umno bastion, creating a sea of people that spilled beyond the confines of the PWTC.

The situation was mirrored on the roads outside that were jammed with cars, motorcycles and buses, many of which carried those who will attend the Himpunan Penyatuan Ummah (Muslim Unity Rally) where the historic union will be formalised.

Some of the PAS supporters had spent the night at PWTC as they had travelled from out of the state to witness the historic event.

Muhammad Ashraff, 23, from Kubang Kerian said it was a very tiring day but it was worth to be part of the event as he would witness the beginning of a new struggle in the Opposition.

“If it’s not us to uphold the position of Islam in the country, then who else will?

“Islam has numerously been undermined by other races but the government has not done much about it,” he said.

His wife Noor Hasliza Shaari, 20, said she had followed her husband as she would support her husband in his political beliefs as it is a struggle for the afterlife.

Meanwhile, an Umno supporter, who only wants to be known as Ramli, said he was surprised by the number of turnout at the event as he has been actively attending Umno General Assemblies the last five years.

“This is definitely the biggest turnout I have witnessed. It is very exciting,” he said.

The estimated turnout at the rally was over 20,000.

In Kuching, over 25,000 Christians set to brave very unhealthy air quality to attend Pentecostal Night tonight

KUCHING – Despite prevailing air pollution in Kuching City, over 25,000 Christians will gather at the historic Jubilee Ground for Pentecostal Night tonight.They are from Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Sarawak for the event, themed “Roh Kudus dan Penuaian” (The Holy Spirit and the Harvest), will be held over two nights.Chairman of the organising committee Datuk Janang Bungsu said the programmes for the event will proceed accordingly, despite the very unhealthy air quality.

He said told participants to wear face masks to protect themselves from the smog.

As at 2pm, the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading for Kuching district was 226 and the neighbouring Samarahan district, 205.

Janang said the organising committee have sent invitations for politicians and lawmakers of the Christian faith from both sides of the political divide to attend the mammoth gathering.

He expressed hope that the politicians and lawmakers would join the thousands of the native Christian faith who had arrived in the city from longhouses and villagers for the gathering.

He added that many of the faithful from the rural areas, who came at their own expense, are putting up with friends and family.

The speaker for the two-night gathering will be Pastor Philip Mantofa from Mawar Sharon Church in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The different Christian denominations participating in Pentecostal Night are the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Sarawak Evangelical Mission and a host of other independent churches.