DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today ordered police to ban the “Jerusalem Jubilee” gathering in Malacca next week, even as the organisers had decided to cancel the event.

“When the sentiments of Muslims are affected and their feelings offended… I as Home Minister order the police to ban the meeting. This is a message that is loud and clear, Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Zahid said if the event was allowed to go on, it will hurt the sensitivities of Muslims.

The home minister was also quoted as saying that several police reports were lodged at the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.

“The matter was referred to me and I had ordered the police to cancel the rally,” he said adding that celebrating Israel’s occupation of Palestine offended Malaysians.

In a statement released earlier today, organisers of the All Malaysian-Golden Gate Revival Convocation (AMGGRC) said the event was a prayer gathering for Christians from Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific, and slammed PAS’ allegations that it was aimed at promoting ‘Zionist Christianity’ and ‘Jewish Culture’.

“AMGGRC is a prayer gathering where churches in Malaysia and in this region are invited to pray for Malaysia, ASEAN and Asia-Pacific as well as to understand the spiritual connotation and meaning of Jerusalem according to the Christian Holy Bible,” the statement said.

“AMGGRC has no intention to provoke and challenge the sensitivities of Malays and Muslims in Malaysia.

“It definitely does not carry any political connotations, implications or whatsoever meaning related to it now or in the future.

“It is deeply regretted that what was started with a good intention to pray for the peace and prosperity of Malaysia has caused much confusion and misunderstanding among certain groups.”

The organisers also said they had already decided to cancel the rally after consultation and advice from the police.

Malacca police chief Abd Jalil Hassan confirmed the organisers had made their own decision to cancel the rally and to date 32 police reports have been lodged against the event.

National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia (NECF) chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng told The Malaysian Insight that PAS should not call the government to ban the event before understanding what’s it all about first.

“I believe that the election is close and everybody is trying to find issues to prove that they are politically relevant.” – June 5, 2017.