Winners and losers of anti-ICERD rally

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 5 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2018 8:00PM · 18 Comments

The anti-ICERD rally in Kuala Lumpur today proceeded smoothly. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, December 8, 2018.

THE organisers put the turnout at half a million, while authorities say it was only 55,000. To more conservative pollsters, the number was just 25,000.

Whatever the figure, today’s protest against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) marked Pakatan Harapan’s first political setback.

WINNERS

Umno and PAS

Bragging rights will go to these two Malay parties. Both – Umno, in particular – have been on the back foot since May 9, but today’s show of strength cements the view that the all-important Malay vote is still in their back pockets.

This perception will embolden their leaders, even the army of discredited ones in Umno, to become more strident on the national stage.

In the short term, expect the loose Umno-PAS coalition to operate like a pressure group on matters pertaining to race and religion.

In the long term, these two parties will try to mine any discontent in the Malay-Muslim community to get more votes.

The organisers of the anti-ICERD rally put turnout at half a million, while authorities say just 55,000 attended. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 8, 2018.

Dr Mahathir’s administration

Many were unsure if Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would walk the talk by allowing the anti-ICERD gathering to go ahead.

In the run-up to the last elections, PH made it clear that it would be more democratic and open to dissenting opinions and protest rallies than Barisan Nasional, which had outlawed a clutch of Bersih 2.0 political gatherings.

But true to their promise, police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall allowed the protest to proceed, and with the aid of PAS volunteer outfit Unit Amal, the rally went ahead smoothly.

A win for freedom of expression and PH.

PAS

The Islamists once again reminded Malaysians that they have superior organisation than other political groups when it comes to mass gatherings.

When hordes turned out for the first four Bersih rallies, PAS members provided solid support. And, it was the same today.

Although the anti-ICERD rally was advertised as an Umno-PAS joint venture, it was quite apparent that more than 90% of attendees were from PAS-related entities. Umno, which has more members on paper, was a pale shadow of its three million members.

No other party has the network, mobilisation and discipline possessed by PAS. Its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, also elicited the loudest cheers when he took to the stage.

The anti-ICERD rally in Kuala Lumpur today is a win for freedom of expression. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, December 8, 2018.

LOSERS

PH government

Let’s be honest. Today’s gathering would not have happened if the new government had handled the ICERD issue better, and was able to exude confidence in its ability to deliver on election promises.

The honeymoon period is over for Dr Mahathir and friends. Perhaps sooner than many had expected.

And, the suggestion to rid themselves of loose canons like Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy may not be a bad idea after all.

It was Waytha Moorthy who announced that the PH government would ratify ICERD next year. Today, the rally-goers did not forget that.

They carried banners and placards demanding that he get the sack.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's speech at the anti-ICERD rally today failed to inspire. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, December 8, 2018.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Umno has always touted itself as the biggest party representing Malay-Muslim interests. But judging from the rally, it is nowhere close to the “village party” it once called PAS.

In fact, the absence of the Umno grassroots showed that party president Zahid either lacks clout or the influence to bring out his three million party members.

While he received polite applause, his speech did not inspire. It sounded hopeful at best – hopeful that his plan for an Umno-PAS collaboration could save his ailing party.

Najib Razak and Rosmah Mansor

There was some applause whenever Najib’s name was mentioned during the speeches. But seriously, why were he and his wife even there?

Umno had only three speakers – Zahid, deputy president Mohamad Hasan and Supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman. So, why was the former prime minister even there in the first place?

He merely waved to the crowd and shook a few hands before leaving the stage in a pink plastic poncho. Hadi, on the other hand, left without any rain cover.

If Najib had hoped to gain sympathy after his trail of charges, he might have gone home satisfied that some PAS members applauded him. But that is as far as he would have gotten. – December 8, 2018.

Former prime minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, at the anti-ICERD rally in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 8, 2018.

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Comments

  • TMI your COVERAGE is bullshit. Earlier reports from you said the turnout at a massive 250k. Get lost. Go fly kite. My subscription with your useless portal is over. Most Unprofessional. Scumbags of TMI. A waste of my money subscribing to your useless & baseless new. PTUIIIIIIII

    Posted 5 years ago by Hantoo Blacklord · Reply

    • Say what you likes, at least TMI provides space for anonymous keywords warriors to expose their stupidity and ill manner.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • Such a bitch of a news agency.....Real Pariah standard.....

    Posted 5 years ago by Hantoo Blacklord · Reply

    • However bullishit TMI, at least it provides space for anonymous keyboard warriors to expresss their idiotic, laughable non sense.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • Winner: Malaysian democracy which is resilient enough to withstand tumultuous events.
    Loser: Paranoid doomsayers who predicted bloodshed and mayhem if the rally proceeded.

    Posted 5 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • What rubbish news is this?
    Mahathir was the one who mentioned about icerd being ratified in the un together with others. Waytha moorthy mentioned the same based on what mahathir had already mentioned.

    Posted 5 years ago by Gabriel Chelliah · Reply

    • Exactly.. thats why Dr M is supportive of Waytha Moorthy because it was DR M who first mentioned it first at the UN address. Waytha was just doing the necessary follow-up to the ratification.
      who are you to agree that he be removed?
      Malaysian Insights assessment & analysis is incorrect. No need to provide such insights in future as you are no expert. You should instead get the political analysts to comment..

      Posted 5 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • That's why earlier I have mentioned that The Malaysian Insight is slowly becoming a bullshit paper that is not even worth to pay for. Firstly it's more like Utusan paper that is pro-UMNO and PAS then a Malaysian paper. It reported the figure as 250k when it's not even near there. What is the motive in the first place? Secondly how did UMNO and PAS become winner when only 50k turned out. On top most of those who attended are mostly from Kelantan. It means PAS has not enough members in the West Coast to put up a good show.

    The outcome of this protest doesn't bring any decisive point to Hadi, Zahid nor Najib. Can Hadi still be able to outlive himself until to the next election. Zahid and Najib will both in jails by then. No use for them to shout and warn anymore.

    Posted 5 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

    • However bullishit TMI, at least it provides space for anonymous keyboard warriors to expresss their idiotic, laughable non sense.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • TMI have you audited your contents before publication. Buck up or we say bye bye.

    Posted 5 years ago by Robert Phang · Reply

    • Bye, keep living in your bubble world.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • Why Ph only barely few months want to touch on racial related issue out of many other more pressing issues. ..Be smart lah....!

    Posted 5 years ago by Abdul Murad Othman · Reply

  • As far as the rally is concern, the big winner is the non-Muslims/Malays. They sat back and watch the silly act of shameful behaviour displaying to the world that PAS/UMNO are just being stupid and racists.

    Posted 5 years ago by Awang Bilis · Reply

  • TMI
    Are you implying that Wathya made his pronouncement without cabinet approval? That's a stretch, ain't it? If anything, Wathya should be in the winner category - cos he took it up his chin, whilst the rest of his PH did not stand up for him, apart from Mahathir.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Further, I would venture to say that Hadi, Zahid, UMNO & PAS - are actually losers.
    500K??
    50k only la ... that also after one free holiday thrown in ... which is effectively paid for using taxpayers money ... cos for these tongkat minds, salaries still need to be paid

    Posted 5 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • During British Days, Mauludul Nabi (the Prophet's Birthdays) were celebrated with a procession in KL. that would usually begin at the Kg. Baru Mosque and pass along Chow Kit area and move along jalan Batu and end at the Masjid Jame & Masjid India in the heart of KL. The rich Muslims those days were all the Indian businesses along Jalan Batu and they were able to sponsor rich food (nasi berinani) at Masjid India but there was not much at Masjid Jame, the bigger mosque. After 1947, there would be more shouts of 'Pakistan Zindabad' (Long Live Pakistan) than actually praising the Prophet. As a primary school boy, I was wondering that in everything including Hindustani movies we talk about India yet on a festival we talk about this unknown place called Pakistan. There was even a Pakistan Islamic School where most Indian Muslim children had to join and support disrupting their their normal English school for the 3 years this school existed. But after 1955 with Malaya's pending independence, all the other shouts became less, instead the anger was directed at the non Malay businesses because in comparison the Malay businesses were negligible. Soon to avoid trouble many businesses would close shop during the procession. Now during Mauludul Nabi only local mosque processions are allowed. This ICERD event managed to pull Muslim crowd like any other Muslim/mosque event, I am not at all surprised. It is more a failure of our education system. The right way to implement ICERD is to prepare the population by telling them about what every religion says about 'discrimination'. Bring back Zainal Alam from RTM of yester years to sing his election type of song for ICERD

    Posted 5 years ago by Shaikh karim · Reply

  • During British Days, Mauludul Nabi (the Prophet's Birthdays) were celebrated with a procession in KL. that would usually begin at the Kg. Baru Mosque and pass along Chow Kit area and move along jalan Batu and end at the Masjid Jame & Masjid India in the heart of KL. The rich Muslims those days were all the Indian businesses along Jalan Batu and they were able to sponsor rich food (nasi berinani) at Masjid India but there was not much at Masjid Jame, the bigger mosque. After 1947, there would be more shouts of 'Pakistan Zindabad' (Long Live Pakistan) than actually praising the Prophet. As a primary school boy, I was wondering that in everything including Hindustani movies we talk about India yet on a festival we talk about this unknown place called Pakistan. There was even a Pakistan Islamic School where most Indian Muslim children had to join and support disrupting their their normal English school for the 3 years this school existed. But after 1955 with Malaya's pending independence, all the other shouts became less, instead the anger was directed at the non Malay businesses because in comparison the Malay businesses were negligible. Soon to avoid trouble many businesses would close shop during the procession. Now during Mauludul Nabi only local mosque processions are allowed. This ICERD event managed to pull Muslim crowd like any other Muslim/mosque event, I am not at all surprised. It is more a failure of our education system. The right way to implement ICERD is to prepare the population by telling them about what every religion says about 'discrimination'. Bring back Zainal Alam from RTM of yester years to sing his election type of song for ICERD

    Posted 5 years ago by Shaikh karim · Reply

    • Thanks for sharimg

      Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply