PAS will attend the Malay dignity congress on October 6, which the organiser says is being held in response to those who “belittled and questioned” Islam and Malay rights, said party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said the party’s decision to attend showed it was committed to strengthening unity among the faithful in the country.

“We have decided that our president will attend. It shows that we are big-hearted in the effort to strengthen unity among the ummah and the country,” said Takiyuddin, who is also Kota Baru MP.

The decision comes about two weeks after PAS had inked a charter with long-time rival Umno to work together in the interest of the Malay-Muslim community.

However, Umno executive secretary Mohd Sumali Reduan said the party had yet to receive an invitation to the event.

“We have not received an invitation from the organiser,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to speak at the event, which is organised by Pusat Kecemerlangan Melayu Akademi Pengajian Melayu Universiti Malaya in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

It will be held at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam instead of the Axiata Arena Stadium in Bukit Jalil as announced earlier.

There are already objections to the prime minister’s scheduled attendance at the event.

MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker said Dr Mahathir should not attend it to show that he was a “prime minister for all”.

Ti said the prime minister’s presence could aggravate racial tensions.

Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said yesterday universities should remain neutral and focus on developing knowledge, leaving the championing of Malay rights to political parties.

However, event secretariat chief executive Zainal Kling said aside from Islam and Malay rights, the position of royalty and the national language were also being questioned.

“This is why we are organising the congress… Because all these questions have challenged Malay dignity so much so that they do not only feel challenged but also played, belittled and underestimated,” he was quoted saying by Malaysiakini at a press conference today

“We are our own thoughts, we do not want to be tools.”

The event will discuss education, religion, culture, politics and the economy from a Malay perspective. – October 1, 2019.