KUALA LUMPUR: The organiser of the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu has assured that the rally on Wednesday at Padang Merbok, which has received the approval from City Hall, will be peaceful.
Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) president Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam said provocative and degrading slogans and chants had been banned at rally, to be held from noon to midnight on Malaysia Day.
He said all participants had also been instructed to adhere to the Peaceful Assemblies Act 2012.
"We are going to hold a peaceful gathering, calling for unity. If there are those who don't adhere to our call, then they will be on their own," said Mohd Ali told reporters today.
He also reiterated that the rally was not organised by Umno as being touted by some quarters and City Hall had given the go-ahead for the rally,
"It is not organised by Umno, it is us (Pesaka), But of course, Umno are among over 100 NGOs and organisations that have been invited to join us in our call for unity and democracy to be upheld, in line with the spirit of the Rukunegara (national principles), among which calls for 'kesopanan dan kesusilaan' (courtesy and morality)."
He said Pesaka member associations had gathered over 3,000 silat exponents to take charge of security during the rally and also to ensure there would no form of provocative messages and chants to degrade or disgrace other leaders.
"We disagree with this recent undemocratic movement that is trying to topple the government. There were scenes where people carried slogans that were provocative and they stamped on pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
"That is a very rude way of showing your disagreement. It is an insult towards those leaders, who happen to be Malays.
"Our rally will be about the call for national unity and it is not about Malay rights as claimed by some, although we also disagree with disgraceful way those in Bersih 4 had called for change.
“That is not the way to topple a democratically elected government. We are civilised and we do it via elections. If you do not agree with the government, you can show it through your ballot papers, not by destabilising the country in such a way."
Mohd Ali also denied the rally was to be jointly organised with the Himpunan Baju Merah (red shirts rally) or Himpunan Melayu Bersatu (United Malay Rally), organised by the Malay NGOs Association, whose president Datuk Jamal Md Yusof has come under criticism for inciting a racial stance in their rally.
"The are invited to join us and since the theme is red shirts, we will all wear red shirts. But this rally is organised by us and we are calling for national unity, which extends to all races, not just the Malays," he said.