KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay Proclamation gathering would have only attracted a mere 300 people if it was allowed to go on, says secretariat chair Datuk Marzuki Yahya.
He also claimed that the event had the support of Umno as the moderator Ibrahim Abu Shah is a party member.
Marzuki also said that the event organisers will not surrender to those who are forcing its cancellation and will use other avenues before holding it in the fasting month.
"Despite four venues having called off their bookings at the last minute - one after another - the organisers are determined to hold it in the future.
"We will inform you of the date when it is held.
"The Malay Proclamation gathering was meant to gather Malays across political parties and professions who are non-partisan and have views on the state of Malays in the country," said Marzuki.
He was speaking to reporters after a media conference by secretariat advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) headquarters here today (March 19).
Prior to this, the gathering was forced to be cancelled after three of its venues cancelled the booking of the halls.
On March 17, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim issued a stern warning against parties he said were using race and religion to promote strife, ahead of the gathering.
