BARISAN Nasional secretary-general  Nazri Abdul Aziz said he does not see the need for him to attend the rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) this Saturday. 

He said Putrajaya had decided not to ratify the convention, a move he supported.

“I clearly said what I wanted from the government, which is not to ratify (ICERD). I have received it.

“I am very conscious about what I wanted and I’m very happy with that decision. I don’t see the need for me to be present on December 8,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today. 

He said ICERD was no longer an issue as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made the government’s position clear.

“If you can’t believe the prime minister, whom can you believe? I won’t attend, I’m happy,” said Nazri. 

The cabinet had said it was not going to seek ICERD’s ratification as the situation was not conducive to it.

Nazri said he was also pleased the government had approved of the rally as it reflected its stand on a new Malaysia. 

“I’m very happy the government has directed the mayor to approve this, and I think it’s in line with their ‘New Malaysia’.

“All you do is hold the organisers responsible. If they cross the line, then take action,” said Nazri. 

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) gave its approval yesterday for the rally to take place on Saturday. 

Mayor Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said he approved of it as long as the protest, organised by Malay-Muslim groups Ummah and Sekretariat Kedaulatan Negara, was conducted “peacefully”.

The protest, expected to see the participation of opposition parties Umno and PAS and Malay rights group Perkasa, will be held on Jalan Raja, opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad building and Dataran Merdeka from 2pm to 6pm this Saturday. – December 4, 2018.