MILITARY veterans have warned Umno, PAS and Perkasa leaders that they are playing a “dangerous game” by leading the anti-International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) rally tomorrow.

National Patriots Association president brig-gen (rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said there is no justification to carry on with the rally after Putrajaya said it would not ratify the treaty.

“This is absolute rubbish. They are playing a dangerous game and we don’t want to see another May 13. Patriot wants an immediate stop to the rally,” Arshad said, referring to the racial riots of May 13, 1969.

Leaders of Umno, PAS and Perkasa have openly supported the rally. They have also rallied their members to participate in the gathering to be held at Dataran Merdeka from 2pm to 6pm tomorrow.

The rally was initially called after Putrajaya said it would ratify the treaty. Malay rights groups protested, claiming that ICERD will erode Malay special privileges and the position of Islam as the country’s official religion.   

After Putrajaya decided not to ratify ICERD, the organisers said the rally will go on as a celebration and thanksgiving.

Arshad said the leaders should instead be focusing on moderation, unity and bringing all the races together.

“Why has the issue of race relations not been resolved since independence 61 years ago? Why are politicians still talking about race? What kind of culture are they trying to inculcate in the younger generation?”

Arshad said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should put a stop to the rally and instead focus on the 45 charges of corruption he faces.

“He (Zahid) should concentrate on the charges and stop making any statement (calling members to the rally). He should be working with his lawyers to prepare his defence.”

Zahid claimed trial to 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money-laundering involving RM114.15 million.

Zahid should also refrain from making speeches (at the rally) which could provoke the other races, Arshad said.

As for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, the spiritual leader should be promoting religious tolerance, Arshad said.

“As a religious man, he should be talking about how to build up unity among the races. He knows and preaches about it. He should be bringing the races together.”

Arshad also chided Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali for saying that he will run amok if the Malays were stepped on.

“He (Ibrahim) should just keep his mouth shut. He should run amok alone and then we see how the authorities deal with him.

“This is all provocation. Is this the right time to come up with these statements?”

Tomorrow’s rally comes more than a week after a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor, was attacked by masked men armed with parang and iron rods. The incident was said to be over the relocation of the temple.

But that incident led to two days of rioting which saw scores of people injured and vehicles damaged. More than 70 people have been arrested. – December 7, 2018.