A RALLY organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which was scheduled for tomorrow, will be postponed after police informed organisers of “serious security risks”.

The rally, which was meant to commemorate the International Human Rights Day, would have been held just hours before another mega-rally is expected to take place in Kuala Lumpur to protest against the anti-racism ICERD agreement.

In a statement issued today, Suhakam said “with deep regret and severe disappointment”that the rally would be postponed to a later date.

“The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have informed Suhakam and the prime minister’s office without divulging details that there will be serious security risks arising out of tomorrow’s events that border on national security,” it said.

“Suhakam is disappointed that a government that is committed to human rights would seem to be influenced by tactics of pressure and extremism that has resulted in the need to postpone the celebration that was planned a few months ago.”

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was due to officiate and speak at the event.

A high-ranking officer from the Bukit Aman police headquarters told The Malaysian Insight earlier that police had instructed Suhakam to postpone its celebration, citing limited manpower to facilitate the event.

“Yes, we asked them to postpone it. Our capability to monitor the rally is limited,” the source said.

The police officer did not divulge the exact nature of the security concerns.

Suhakam said it would hold a press conference later today on the postponement of its event.

The Suhakam rally was to have taken place in the morning while the rally to protest against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) is scheduled for the afternoon.

Organisers of the anti-ICERD protest claim hundreds of thousands of supporters from Malay rights groups and political parties Umno and PAS will participate in the rally to celebrate the backtracking of Putrajaya’s initial plans to ratify the United Nations convention. – December 7, 2018.