PAS, Umno in two minds over ICERD rally

SM Amin SM Amin Updated 5 years ago · Published on 28 Nov 2018 11:00AM · 11 Comments

More than 20 vehicles and several motorcycles were torched and damaged in an attack and riots over the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, November 28, 2018.

AFTER two days of unrest in Subang Jaya, Selangor, over a temple issue, PAS and Umno now appear to be in two minds over a rally on December 8 to “celebrate” Putrajaya’s decision not to ratify an anti-discrimination accord.

Questions were raised over the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) rally as racial tension in the Klang Valley spiked after two nights of rioting over the relocation of the 147-year-old Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

The rally, organised by Malay rights groups, was initially supported by Islamist party PAS and Umno, which were set against Putrajaya ratifying ICERD for fear it would strip the Malays of their rights and threaten the position of Islam in the country.

However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said yesterday the party’s central committee would decide today if it wanted to participate in the gathering.

“We want to discuss and evaluate the current situation. Right now, we have not made a decision or stand on the matter. It will be decided tonight,” Takiyuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said the rally should be peaceful and held in accordance to the rules stipulated in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

“If the organiser gets approval from the police, we will give it support. The rally must follow the rules,” Annuar said.

“This is why Umno wants the organiser to talk to the police and cooperate over security. This rally is not to create chaos in the country.”

Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya says the temple issue has nothing to do with ICERD and there is no reason to stop it or postpone it to another time. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 28, 2018.

Annuar said if the rally degenerates into a riot, it will defeat its purpose of highlighting the dangers of ICERD to Malay rights.

Over the last 48 hours, police have rounded up 28 suspects allegedly involved in the temple attack on Monday and rioting yesterday and early today.

More than 20 vehicles and several motorcycles were torched and damaged in the incidents.

The incidents caused unease among Malaysians, with some questioning if the rally on December 8 should be allowed to go on.

The organiser of the rally, Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah), however, is adamant about going ahead with the event.

Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya said he was aware there were quarters trying to link the riots at the temple to the ICERD rally.

“The temple issue has nothing to do with ICERD or anything else. If anything, it is between the developer and the temple management,” Aminuddin told The Malaysian Insight.

“I don’t see why we should stop it or postpone it to another time. Our rally is to celebrate the success in stopping Putrajaya from ratifying ICERD. It is a thanksgiving, not a riot.” – November 28, 2018.

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Comments

  • If you need a reason to stop the anti-ICERD rally just look at the videos of today's early morning protest. It had racial undertones. The people involved could not differentiate between an attack on a temple and devotees over a land dispute and a racial dispute. The temple committee and the priests could tell the difference but not the participants who demonstrated this morning and even challenged the police on arresting Malays. This sort of people are the wrong kind you want participating in the anti-ICERD rally as they will get emotional will not be rational and chaos will ensue.

    Posted 5 years ago by Michael Raj · Reply

  • If RIOTS take place in Malaysia not only the indian or chinese that will suffer the malays will also suffer. All races will cripple or lose their Loved Ones . ACTION N REACTION ARE OPPOSITE N EQUAL . NATURE 'S LAW NO ONE CAN CHANGE.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • This celebration is nothing more than gloating to the other races in Malaysia that one race/religion is supreme in Malaysia and might is right. In essence it tantamount to provocation. Once doesn't have to go far to see the consequences in the Seafield temple incident. This will be at a scale much larger than Seafield temple and one can imagine the consequences if anything goes wrong - it's like a fuse lying in a keg of gunpowder waiting for a spark.

    Posted 5 years ago by LJ WONG · Reply

  • some people are simply beyond reason, and just want to see the world burn.

    Posted 5 years ago by Alex Chong · Reply

  • Wrong time, wrong place and the very wrong people brewing the most likely unexpected. Police has very good reasons to cancel the rally.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Mahatir !!! Do your job as a PM !!!! Stop giving allowance to yoursel on the patience!!!! Stop the permit of rally . The two VIPs are Zahid Hamidi and Hadi Awang. Zahid has openly declare defiance and proudly claimed patronge over Pekida and is a rabble rouser while Hadi Awang has his black marks on his Amanat Hadi on Memali issues. These two has openly challenge your Rules of Law. They are looking at your indifference and soft stance as age mellowing effect. The rakayat will fully support you on your going very firm with these two rascal and their cohorts... These two only understand high handed punishment on them to make them behave like mouse. Extreme desperate actions causing racial unrest and mayhem require extreme measures to counter. Be back to the old Mahatir to take the bull by the horn to safe guard the country. Period.!!!!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • I hope the organiser should consider to cancel the rally under present atmosphere.

    Posted 5 years ago by Masfaliza masmuda · Reply

  • 8th December is some days away and I would confidently predict that the rally would fizzle out. Most of the noisemakers have no appetite for a fight or violence. With the exception of the urban poor of Kg Medan and similar places as well as the up-and-coming rabble-rousers who see this as an opportunity to make a name for themselves as the new generation of racists, the others would prefer to stay home and say their prayers.

    Posted 5 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Such shallow mentality. May Allah save us all

    Posted 5 years ago by Sz Lian Yong · Reply

  • Hope better sense prevails. A lot to lose and little to gain if the rally is held.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • This rally should be stopped at all costs. I do not believe that this rally is going to be a peaceful one. Racism is written all over this rally. JUST STOP IT. TS Muhyuddin, please direct the PDRM to not issue any permit. And should the rally goes ahead, without the police permit, PDRM should come hard on the organiser's.

    Posted 5 years ago by MOHD ADHA THANGARAJAH · Reply