Home Minister tells ICERD rally organisers to 'save money' and cancel it

PUTRAJAYA: Save your money and call off the ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) rally, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. 

The Home Minister said rallies are “expensive affairs” and its organisers are better off if they just cancelled the planned gathering on Dec 8. 

“My advice is, it is better if the rally is not held because it is expensive. 

“You have to come up with money to print t-shirts and such, why not just save that money so you could spend it on other things,” said Muhyiddin at a press conference on Wednesday (Nov 28). 

He was asked to comment on the Dec 8 rally, which its organisers are planning on having even though the government had officially declined to ratify ICERD. 

“The Cabinet has already made a decision not to ratify ICERD. The decision is final, so you must respect it. 

“What is the point of having the rally, when the original intention was to protest the ratification of ICERD?” Muhyiddin questioned. 

The rally organisers have said the gathering will go on, but this time it was to celebrate the decision to reject ICERD. 

“If you want to express syukur (gratitude), don't do it in a rally. Just do it at a mosque. 

“Have a thanksgiving ceremony, pray for the country's peace. Say Alhamdulillah, there won't be any ratification of ICERD. That is probably more ideal,” said Muhyiddin. 

The minister, however, said if its organisers remain stubborn and insisted on having the rally, they will still have to comply with the provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act. 

“If they comply will the act, we will approve it. But it is better if they don't have the rally at all,” said Muhyiddin.