A GROUP of seven Sabah Bumiputera political parties and civil society organisations are expected to take part in a protest against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) after Friday prayers tomorrow.

Members from Umno, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, PAS, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, Gabungan Mahasiswa Se-Islam Malaysia (Gamis) and two other groups will gather at Masjid Negeri in Sembulan around 1.30pm.

Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain said some 700 people are expected to turn up, urging the government not to ratify the convention.

“We have already informed the authorities about our gathering tomorrow.

The groups fear that Bumiputera rights will be abolished if ICERD is ratified.

He referred to Article 153 in the federal constitution, which states that “it shall be the responsibility  of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri  to safeguard the special position  of the natives and the legitimate interests  of other communities in accordance with the provisions  of this article.”

This might mean an end to native land rights, public service quota, Bumiputera scholarship allocation and economic aid.

Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator P. Waytha Moorthy said the government will hold a series of public engagements to seek views on ICERD from January onwards.

Umno and PAS will hold a joint protest against ICERD on December 8. – November 22, 2018.