A FESTIVAL to celebrate human rights by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which was scheduled for tomorrow and halted after security risks, will proceed on Sunday.

Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail said the festival will be held at the original venue, Padang Timur in Petaling Jaya, on Sunday morning

He said the commission was still disappointed with the cabinet’s decision that the festival not be held tomorrow on the same day as another rally to protest an anti-discrimination treaty.

“The cabinet had a meeting and decided that the festival should not go on. We are still disappointed at how this has come about.

“But we will have it for two days and we invite all to come,” he told reporters at the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Hours earlier, Suhakam announced that its festival, held in conjunction with International Human Rights Day, would not proceed tomorrow as scheduled on advice from the police.

The festival would have preceded a mega rally by Malay-Muslim groups in the afternoon over the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Razali said everyone on Suhakam’s mailing list, including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other politicians, is invited to turn up on Sunday.

“But we understand if they can’t make it because of the short notice.

“The Prime Minister’s Office said they will issue a letter (asking us) not to proceed with the celebrations, and we are waiting for it.

“We are not satisfied that security risks were given as the reason (to call off the festival). We have asked for details, but they have not been given to us.”

Even if there were threats to security, police could handle the matter, he said.

“This gives the impression that the country is run by security risks.

“We understand that the ICERD rally is tomorrow, and we support the principle of that assembly – as long as it is peaceful.”

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai said it is “mischievous” of certain parties to label the festival as a counter-rally.

“It is not a counter-rally, but a celebration of human rights.” – December 7, 2018.