Malaysians start gathering for Jerusalem rally

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians have come out in full force to support the solidarity rally against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

At noon on Friday (Dec 22), many were seen wearing Palestinian flag scarves as a sign of support for its people at the Barisan Nasional-organised “Solidarity to Save Jerusalem” rally being held at the Putra Mosque here.

There will also be a forum with panellists that include Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR), Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Amanah), Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor (Pribumi), Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS) and Dr Yusri Mohamad from Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim).

National Dakwah Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abd Majid will moderate the forum.

The Mufti of the Federal Territories, Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad, will also be giving a special sermon on the issue during the Friday prayers.

After the Friday prayers, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will deliver speeches.

Najib, also the Barisan chairman, was seen arriving at the Putra Mosque with his entourage at 1.10pm.

He is expected to announce a resolution on the Jerusalem issue during the rally.

On Thursday in New York, Malaysia joined 127 other countries to vote in favour of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Nine voted against the resolution while 35 abstained.

This came despite President Trump threatening to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favour of the resolution.

“Malaysia joins the international community in expressing our deep concern and rejects the decision by the United States to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” said Malaysia's permanent representative to the UN, Datuk Seri Mohd Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.

“It is also an infringement of the Palestinian people’s rights and their right to self determination,” he said, advocating a peaceful two-state solution and adding that Malaysia is concerned that this dire situation will only feed into the agenda of extremists.

He was speaking at the 37th plenary meeting of the 10th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly, which was entitled “Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.