Hadi: Dec 8 rally will be held peacefully

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno and PAS will continue with its Dec 8 demonstration despite recent tensions arising from the riots at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and the government’s decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang claimed the demonstration was actually to support Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision not to ratify the convention.

But he also pointed out that other Pakatan Harapan leaders had issued conflicting statements.

“The Prime Minister said it is impossible to ratify ICERD, (while) the PM-in-waiting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said to wait before ratifying, (and) others say they do not understand.

“So we still have our doubts. We will attend the demonstration to state our stand peacefully,” said Abdul Hadi.

Last Friday, Dr Mahathir said ratifying ICERD would involve amending the Federal Constitution and Pakatan did not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament to do it and that some in Pakatan were also not in favour of the convention.

The opposition claims the requirements of ICERD will jeopardise the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, as provided under Article 153 of the Constitution.

The Dec 8 rally is organised by Malay-Muslim NGO Ummah and Sekretariat Kedaulatan Negara and will be held at Dataran Merdeka.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the upcoming rally must be peaceful, with participants following the law and working with the police.

Asked if the Dec 8 rally had gotten the green light from the authorities to proceed, Annuar said he wasn’t aware because Umno isn’t the organiser.

In Parliament, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Wanita Umno chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said they would mobilise and bring as many members as possible for the rally.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the anti-ICERD rally should not be linked with the riots at the temple.

“These are separate issues. The temple issue involves the developer and the temple owner. It has nothing to do with ICERD and we shouldn’t relate it with the rally,” he said.