The Malaysian Insight

THE rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Kuala Lumpur today ended an hour before its intended time due to threat of a heavy rain.

Dark clouds, thunder and flashes of lightning turned into a drizzle just as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang started his speech at 4.44pm.

He warned the Pakatan Harapan government that he would organise another rally if the government brings back the issue if ICERD ratification.

Organised by Malay-Muslim supremacist groups, the gathering is also supported by Umno and PAS, and was supposed to end at 6pm.

However immediately after Hadi’s speech, PAS syura council secretary Nik Mohamad Zawawi Salleh closed the rally with a prayer for Muslims to unite and reject any attempts to erode Malay and Muslim rights.

“And we also pray to God that you will make Pakatan Harapan government lose in the next election.

“We also hope You will help all the Malay-Muslims and young voters who voted for Pakatan to realise the error of their ways and not vote for them again in the next election,” said Zawawi.

After that the protestors began to leave Dataran Merdeka amid a light drizzle.

Even before that the crowd has started making their way back home because of the weather.

Many who were waiting along Jalan Tun Perak were seen leaving, pointing out to the dark clouds.

But the crowd in front of Dataran Merdeka is unable to move because gridlock across the capital has hemmed them in. 

Earlier, speakers had been going onstage to speak out against ICERD and the new Pakatan Harapan government.

Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman warned PH that Umno will return to power in the next general election.

He said this was because PH is not carrying out their responsibilities of protecting the Malays and Islam.

Earlier, rally-goers from Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Tun Perak have been stopped from marching towards Dataran Merdeka as it is now filled with people.

They have been told to sit where they are while volunteers set up speakers for them to follow the speeches from Dataran Merdeka.

Police and City Hall officers have have estimated the crowd to about 250,000 to 300,000 people.

Around 10,000 rally-goers are forced to stop at Jalan Tun Perak as the large crowd surrounding Dataran Merdeka has made it impossible for them to move farther in. 

The crowd marching from Sogo was forced to stop after it was announced that the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka is full. Many sat down along the five-foot ways to take shelter from the heat.

Earlier, Umno leaders joined the anti-ICERD rally and took their seats at Dataran Merdeka.

First to arrive was Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was joined on stage by deputy president Mohamad Hasan. 

Decked in all-white baju Melayu and baju kurung, former prime minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, also arrived at the Masjid Jamek LRT station to cheers of “Hidup Melayu”.

The couple had boarded the train at the Putra World Trade Centre. There were then escorted to Dataran Merdeka by Umno supporters, who were also seen distributing the party flag.

People have been gathering in various locations across the capital since the start of the day, before making their way to Jalan Raja, where rally leaders are set to address the crowd.

Earlier, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today reminded rally leaders to be mindful of what they say in their speeches at the rally.

“Everything must be done in accordance with the law,” Muhyiddin said in Johor this morning.

He also warned the rally leaders not to say anything provocative which would incite the the crowd.

“The most important thing is to maintain peace,” he said, adding the police were directed to ensure everything went smoothly during the gathering.

Thousands are gathering in the city centre today for the anti-ICERD rally called to “celebrate” the cancellation of the ratification of the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The Malaysian Insight reports live from the rally in Kuala Lumpur:

5pm: Crowd starts to disperse. Police had put the crowd at about 55,000, while Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had estimated that 500,000 had turned up.

4.50pm: PAS syura council secretary Nik Mohamad Zawawi Salleh closes rally with a prayer for Muslims to unite and reject any attempts to erode Malay and Muslim rights. 

“And we also pray to God that you will make Pakatan Harapan government lose in the next election. 

“We also hope you will help all Malay-Muslims and young voters who voted for Pakatan to realise the error of their ways and not vote for them again in the next elections,” said Zawawi. 

After that the protestors begin to leave Dataran Merdeka amidst the light drizzle.

4.44pm: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang warns that people will take to the streets if the PH government continues to defend ICERD.

He says PH must be aware that it won Putrajaya with just a simple majority.

“If they’re brave, bring up ICERD in Parliament. They won with only a simple majority. If they bring it to Parliament, we’ll call on the people to take to the streets,” he told rally-goers. 

4.34pm: Rain falls at Dataran Merdeka.

4.26pm: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the rally is the result of Malay rights being toyed with.

“PAS and Umno cooperation will hinge on Islamic issues. We will work together on other issues too. This is not a political cooperation but a cooperation based on faith. 

“I want umno and PAS to work together after this. 

“Are we ready to gather again for the Malay Muslim issues? Are we ready to work together as PAS and Umno?”

4.22pm: Some  rally-goers make for home as dark clouds gather and thunder is heard over Dataran Merdeka.

4.12pm: PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says rally is meant to send three warnings to the government.

“The first warning is to other countries that they don’t need to interfere in our affairs. We are not gathering because we are anti Chinese or Indian or Hindu or Christians but we gather to protect our rights

“We don’t want to take other people’s lands but want to preserve Malay reserve lands.” 

The second warning is that if PH is slow to react to such issues, a rally will be held in Putrajaya. 

“Third warning. Don’t threaten the harmony of Malaysia and the relationship between the races.”

4.09pm: Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan says the rally is not only to reject ICERD but to reject the PH government as well.

“To return the honour of Malay-Muslims, we must unite. There is no other formula but for Malays to unite. When two Malay parties, Umno and PAS, I repeat, Umno  and PAS,  cooperate, there is nothing we can’t do. We will take back Putrajaya in the 15th general election.”

4.00pm: Najib makes his way to Dataran Merdeka as supporters cheer him on.

3.50pm: Pasir Salak firebrand MP Tajudin Abdul Rahman of Umno says the United Nations is undermining Malaysia’s independence. 

“I say, go to hell with the United Nations,” he says.

He says Dr Mahathir should not be a DAP puppet as the party will  use of him to control the government.

3.37pm: Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) deputy chairman Kamaruzzaman Mohamad estimates crowd at 500,000.

3.31pm: Kuala Lumpur City Hall officials estimates crowd to be between 250,000 and 300,000. 

3.13pm: Rally-goers along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman from the Sogo area are asked to stop marching towards Dataran Merdeka and sit down wherever they can along the road.

2.54pm: Around 10,000 rally-goers are forced to stop at Jalan Tun Perak as the large crowd surrounding Dataran Merdeka has made it impossible for them to move farther in. 

A loudspeaker is set up near the Masjid Jamek LRT station to broadcast the leaders’ speeches from Dataran Merdeka.

2.47pm: The crowd marching from Sogo is forced to stop after it is announced that the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka is full. Some sit down and take shelter in five foot ways to escape the heat.

2.25pm: Umno flags are seen being passed out to those among the crowd in Masjid Jamek.

2.22pm: Najib and Rosmah arrive at the Jalan Raja assembly point near Dataran Merdeka. PAS members and supporters also arrive. 

2.18pm: During Zohor prayers earlier, thousands of Malay-Muslims prayed for the protection of their race and religion at Dataran Merdeka before the anti-ICERD officially began.

“Save us and protect our race and religion against discrimination,” said imam Muhamad Ali Jamil, while leading the prayers. 

He asked God to help unite Malays and rise against anti-racism and discrimination conventions such as ICERD.

1.55pm: Former prime minister Najib Razak takes the LRT from PWTC to attend the rally at Dataran Merdeka. He arrived at the station surrounded by supporters chanting “Hidup Melayu”.

2pm: Event organiser Kamaruzaman Mohamad claims 300,000 are gathered here.

1.15pm: PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Mat leads zohor prayers for the thousands gathered at Sogo shopping complex. 

Protestors in Jalan Tun Perak hold placards asking Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy to resign. He announced the plan to sign ICERD next year and was the government’s point man in the ratification exercise.

1pm: A man claiming to be a former DAP member leads a crowd in front of Sogo in chanting “celaka DAP” (damn DAP) and “hancur DAP” (death to DAP).

He introduces himself as Amran Nor and that he was a DAP member of many years. He says he knows that the party was formed to destroy the Malay Muslim community and bring down the Malay rulers.

“The government may be Pakatan Harapan but it is controlled by DAP. DAP uses the other parties as proxies. ‘Hancur, hancur hancur DAP. Celaka DAP, Celaka DAP. DAP memerintah.’ (DAP calls the shots).

12.45pm: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali arrives at Masjid Jamek. 

He sits at the back of the mosque where the food trucks are located.

Celebrity preacher Uztaz Azhar Idrus shows up in front of Sogo and is immediately mobbed by fans. 

With a green scarf draped over his shoulder, he stops several times to oblige requests for selfies with him.

12.25pm: More than 50 people begin walking from Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru to the Sogo shopping complex.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin reminds rally leaders to be mindful of what they say in their speeches later. Speaking to reporters in Johor Baru, Muhyiddin hopes “everything is done in accordance with the law”.

12.15pm: Stage and seating arrangements are being set up at the edge of Dataran Merdeka as people filter in from the direction of Masjid Negara.

12.10pm: A group of 50 people from the controversial Malay-Muslim rights group Pekida begins its march towards Dataran Merdeka from the Sogo shopping complex.

Carrying banners protesting ICERD and waving their distinct green, yellow and red flags, the group caught the attention of others with their loud shouts of “Allahu Akhbar”.

Pekida has been accused of harbouring unsavoury characters but its leaders claim the group is devoted to charity work and have taken steps to purge its ranks of criminal elements.

11.57am: A crowd numbering about 1,000 protestors have gathered at Masjid Negara, where the atmosphere appeared relaxed, with many eating and shopping. No prominent leaders were seen in the fairly gender-mixed crowd at the mosque, where more are expected to arrive before the Zohor prayers.

11.50am: Some rally-goers begin walking from Wisma Tun Sambanthan to Masjid Negara.

11.36am: Rally-goers from Terengganu and Kelantan have begun to clog up Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in front of the Sogo shopping complex prior to their march to Dataran Merdeka. Some were seen taking selfies with banners reading “Protest ICERD” in the middle of the closed three-lane road, one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest.

11.36am: People begin trickling into the Dataran Merdeka area.

11.30am: Mood in Masjid Jamek upbeat as protestors throng food trucks, fast-food eateries and mamak restaurants for a bite and to use the toilets before the protest officially begins at 3pm.

11.25am: A carnival-like atmosphere has transpired and many stalls selling anti-ICERD T-shirts, drinks and snacks have been set up on roads leading to Dataran Merdeka.

11.23am: Crowd starts to build up outside the Sogo department store in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

11.22am: Istana Negara official Azuan Effendy receives memorandum from leaders of the silat groups.

11.15am: People wearing white begin congregating at the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

11am: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and its members will not be marching straight to Dataran Merdeka from the Kampung Baru Mosque.

They will instead head to Masjid Jamek at 12.30pm, where Ibrahim will perform prayers before walking to the final venue. 

He also said that Perkasa members would not be marching but coming from other areas to the venue. 

He said he was too old to march to Dataran Merdeka from Kampung Baru.

11am: Hundreds of members of various silat associations from across the country started their march to Istana Negara at 10.30am to submit a memorandum to a representative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The memorandum carries their protest against the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

They had earlier gathered at the main entrance of the Federal Territories Mosque in Jalan Duta this morning. 

The istana is about 2km away from the mosque.

Clad in black and gold baju Melayu and headdresses, the group chanted “Allah is Great” while carrying banners bearing excerpts of the shahadah.

The group’s chief secretary, Sahruddin Esa, also urged the members to recite the selawat prayer instead of hurling provocative slogans.

Police are facilitating the smooth flow of traffic near the mosque and the situation is currently under control. – December 8, 2018.