UMNO and PAS are showing disrespect for the Malay rulers by insisting on proceeding with the rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on December 8, said Amanah leader Raja Bahrin Shah today.

The Terengganu Amanah chairman questioned the motives of the two political parties demanding to hold the rally even after the government has capitulated to their demand that it not ratify the treaty.

Deputy Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah has also reminded the leaders and the people to uphold multiracial unity, and several muftis had advised against going ahead with the rally planned for December 8 at Dataran Merdeka.

“ICERD was rejected on the basis of upholding the sovereignty of the Malay rulers and Islam,” said Raja Bahrin in a media statement.

“However, by ignoring the command of Sultan Nazrin Shah and the recommendations of the Kelantan mufti, PAS and Umno are doing the the opposite.”

“Isn’t their rebellious behaviour against the command of the acting Agong and the advice by the mufti who has been appointed by the sultan?”

Raja Bahrin asked if the rally was actually more about furthering their politial ambitions than championing the Malay and Islamic causes.

Kelantan mufti Mohamad Shukri Mohamad’s has recommended that the rally be cancelled due to the riots that broke out early this week, a view endorsed by his Perak, Negri Sembilan and Penang counterparts.

On November 23, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that the government would not become signatory to the ICERD and would instead remain committed to obligations of the social contract set out in the federal constitution.

Sultan Nazrin in a speech last night, reminded leaders to not incite racial hatred that would threaten the nation’s hard-won peace and harmony . 

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday said the anti-ICERD rally was necessary to forestall any attempt by the ‘non-Muslims in parliament’ to have Malaysia sign the treaty anyway.

He said such an attempt was likely because non-Muslim MPs outnumbered Muslim ones in the Dewan Rakyat – which is factually incorrect 

There are 222 members of parliament, of which 140 are Muslim and 82 are not.  – December 2, 2018.