ALOR STAR: The rally to oppose the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) tomorrow is politically motivated and will only serve the interests of Pas and Umno.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said both parties were taking the risk of causing anxiety and tension among the people by playing up racial sentiments.
"We have to understand that tomorrow's gathering between Umno and Pas is nothing more than a political gathering. What is worse is the racial and religious issues they are raising.
"This matter, if unmonitored, can create anxiety and cause tension among the people. We should be focusing on unity at this point in time," he said after officiating the Kedah Pakatan Harapan Convention here today.
Tomorrow's anti-ICERD rally is scheduled to take place at Dataran Merdeka and hundreds of thousands of Umno and Pas members are expected to attend.
Mukhriz, who is also Kedah Menteri Besar, said it was possible that the opposition parties were "jealous" with the strength of PH and were trying to break its unity by playing up the ICERD issue.
"We don't really understand the purpose of (the rally)... when they start raising racial and religious issues.
"What they are raising are political issues and perhaps, they are jealous of PH's strong unity... they won't be able to ruin the relationship among the four PH component parties," he said.
Meanwhile, in his speech earlier, Mukhriz urged PH leaders to serve the people well as they were responsible for the changes that took place during the 14th General Election.
He said the people deserved the highest amount of recognition for their contributions and willingness to take the risk of voting out the previous government.