KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of people nationwide gathered on Friday to voice their displeasure against Malaysia’s possible ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The protesters, comprising non-governmental organisations and political party members, began gathering as soon as Friday prayers ended to show dissent over the government’s move to consider the ratification of the convention, which they deemed would be detrimental to the Muslim way of life in Malaysia.
In JOHOR BARU, more than 500 people gathered at the parking lot of the Masjid al-Jawahir, Mutiara Rini in Iskandar Puteri.
The gathering, organised by Umno and Pas, began at 2pm.
Speeches by those in attendance saw them voicing the opposition to ICERD, as well as speaking out in defence of Bumiputera rights as well as the importance of upholding the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers.
Among those present were Umno state liaison chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad; state Pas commissioner Abdullah Hussin and Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
A larger crowd was seen in IPOH, where around 2,000 people assembled at the Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II.
Among those in attendance were Pas vice-president, Idris Ahmad, Semanggol assemblyman Razman Zakaria; Changkat Jering assemblyman Ahmad Saidi Mohamad; and Perak Pas Youth chief Akmal Kamaruddin.
Idris said the assembly of thousands of Muslims showed that the community was opposed to the ICERD.
“This is an early warning to those who side with ICERD. I wish to remind them that 63 per cent of Malaysians are Muslims and there has been no oppression of non-Muslims and non-Malays.
“We have no issues with the Chinese controlling the economy, having their own schools. But do not create chaos over this issue,” he said.
The demonstrators had earlier marched to the Perak Bar Council office to hand over a memorandum of protest before dispersing at 3pm.
The crowd was equally large in KUANTAN, where around 2,000 people gathered at the Masjid Negeri Sultan Ahmad 1.
Among those who spoke were Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin; Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki; Umno Youth information chief Mohd Shahar Abdullah; and Pahang Pas commissioner Rosli Jabar.
Their speeches centred on urging Muslims to unite and protect the Federal Constitution which states Islam as the official religion, upholding the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers and on Bahasa Melayu as the official language of Malaysia.
Mohd Shahar in his speech also challenged Tanah Rata’s DAP assemblyman Chong Yoke Kong and Tras DAP assemblyman Chow Yu Hui to debate the ICERD.
Meanwhile, one of the protesters, Omar Mat from Kampung Beserah said he was concerned over the possibility that the ICERD could be ratified by the government.
“As a Muslim and Malay, I oppose the ratification of ICERD. Everyone has been treated fairly before this and there is no need for Malaysia to ape the West,” he said. -- Reporting by Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof, Mohd Hafizee Mohd Arop and Mohamad Azim Fitri Abd Aziz