APPROXIMATELY one million Malaysians are targeted to participate in a massive rally as a gesture of solidarity with Palestine, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on February 24.

Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the programme, dubbed “Perhimpunan Sejuta Rakyat Untuk Palestin” (the Million People Rally for Palestine­), aims to express support for the Palestinians’ struggle and to call for an immediate cessation of the war in Gaza.

As the assembly’s coordinator, he said they are also hope to enlist 1,000 civil society groups to join the rally.

Azmi added that Mapin is currently in the planning stages regarding the venue for the large-scale event, with the intention for the rally to pass in front of the United States embassy. He appealed for the authorities’ cooperation to ensure that the gathering can be held safely and smoothly.

“This rally will send a powerful message from the people of Malaysia to the United Nations to urgently intervene and stop Israel from continuing its atrocities on Gaza,” he said during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Meanwhile, former Batu MP Tian Chua, who also serves as the spokesman for the Palestinian Solidarity Secretariat, said that the solidarity picket for Palestine near the US embassy is considered successful in exerting pressure and will reach its peak tomorrow night.

“We will commence the New Year countdown starting at 9pm tomorrow, targeting 1,000 participants to continue demonstrating our solidarity and firm stance on the Palestinian issue,” he said. – Bernama, December 30, 2023.