Anti-ICERD rally is Umno's opportunity for relevance

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 5 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2018 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Perkasa members protesting against ICERD in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday. The anti-ICERD rally today could just help Umno get back on its feet after languishing around since its historic loss in the 14th general election. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 8, 2018.

BY the looks of it, and with PAS’ help, the anti-anti-discrimination rally today could just be the tonic for Umno’s revival after its historic and disastrous loss in the May 9 general election.

The party lost the government, lost its coalition, lost more lawmakers and have seen its leaders being slapped with more criminal charges than even the most famous criminal of all time in Malaysia – Botak Chin, who had pleaded guilty to three charges under the now-repealed Internal Security Act (ISA).

But this afternoon, organisers expect some 500,000 to turn up at Dataran Merdeka to protest any possible ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) by Malaysia.

The government led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has already said it will not ratify the convention but the protest is still going on, say the organisers.

To make sure they fulfil their boast, PAS-ruled Kelantan has declared Sunday a public holiday to enable its residents to make their way to Kuala Lumpur and back without fear of missing work.

A planned World Human Rights Day event in nearby Petaling Jaya today has also been postponed to tomorrow after police said it presented a national security risk, unlike the anti-ICERD rally.

Yet, the rally at the historic space in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad building is not a security risk, and perhaps more about the insecurities of the majority Malays stoked by politicians who lost in the 14th general election.

These losing politicians have found their voice again, as seen by former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein lecturing ministers and deputy ministers about Malaysian troops in the Yemen conflict.

Apart from him, the ones that will benefit from today’s rally is Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his disgraced predecessor Najib Razak – whose extravagant administration was kicked out in the May 9 polls.

Both face a slew of criminal charges, 45 for Zahid and 38 for Najib, but their supporters believe it is all trumped up to distract attention from Dr Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) inability to handle an economy burdened by the excesses and extravagances of the past.

So, ICERD and issues of race and religion have given Umno some oxygen to survive and even flourish after their unimaginable defeats at federal and state levels seven months ago.

Umno has much riding on the turnout for today’s event to the point that some of its leaders warned the government not to go ahead with the human rights celebrations.

The party needs to show its relevance to the community it claims to represent – the same community that has supported it through thick and thin until the last elections when supporters either did not vote for them or refused to vote at all.

Notwithstanding all the financial scandals during its time in power that is being exposed now, from the dodgy investment deals undertaken by agencies and statutory bodies such as Felda and Tabung Haji.

For PAS, it is business as usual to protest at the square with its current allies, and to justify its support for Umno in the general elections. Linking up with like-minded allies and those from the far right fringe gives it purpose and a way to keep its support base intact.

For all of them, insisting that ratifying ICERD will erode Malay special privileges and the position of Islam as the country’s official religion is the only way to keep their share of the votes in the last election for future elections. – December 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • TolakICERD! TolakUMNO! TolakPAS!

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • UMNO n PAS ROT IN HELL

    Posted 5 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • After the Anti-ICERD, what else could Zahid the loser comedian has to offer. Hadi will play his cards to be on friendly term with PH Government to gain excess for finacial aids. The impending floods which has never cancelled its yearly visit to the East Coast states will be too much for Hadi. He pray all he could seeking forgiveness and blessing from Allah but it will be on deaf ears. Once all his richness and wealth of assets with all his new found wives are exposed Hadi can kiss goodbye to politics as a crook and a hypocrite. Post rally if the volume turnout is a dismayal , it will be a bleak turning point for both UmnoPAS. It wll be viewed by many as two incompetent leaders trying hard to shake up the country for their own self serving causes. Post Anti- ICERD will see Zahid being hauled to court with unbelievable 45 charges and many more to be revealed. It will keep him silent and rooted to the dock without any more time and space for more of the nonsensical antics and it is the sign of the fall of Umno with its first erosion. Due to his idignant denial of his charges and claming it is political persecution he has adamantly refuse to resign from his post as President only culminate to expedite Umno demise. Hadi on the other hand has all the hidden fear when he would be called up not by his make believe makers but the fear of his association with 1MDB scandals money. We shall see all the Hadi debaucheries with Umno will start to cease when Umno warords , one by one in single file queing to prison cell. He will be on his new game of audulterous affais with PM to be. But he will find his stairway to perdition earlier as he has caused too many miseries from his ill man made religion to be forgiven. He was warned once by Almighty but took no bother.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • 1. It is really surprising with so many court cases pending, some of the leaders can still put up a brave front as though they are untouchables and their ill-gotten money power can buy everything everywhere. 2. With all the border restrictions all the 1MDB rich fugitives are still free and enjoying life. 3. PAS as a religious political party has done more harm to the cause of Islam than what any non-Muslim can do to it. Is Islam really supportive of racial discrimination or is it a one of Malaysian thing. I am all confused. 4. I hope TMI will initiate some healthy discussions on Islam and Racial Discrimination to educate us Muslims who are quite shock with this ICERD development because many Muslim countries have already signed it.

    Posted 5 years ago by Shaikh karim · Reply

    • You should be glad that you are a thinking Malaysian, and not one of those who are being manipulated by unscrupulous politicians. These politicians do so only for their own selfish agenda.

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply