The Malaysian Insight

UMNO’S plans to celebrate its political cooperation with PAS with a mega rally will be fine-tuned when both parties meet in July, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said.

He said the rally would be an important gathering to mark the new-found relationship between the two Malay-Muslim parties.

“The main organising committee will have their second meeting next month.

“The message of the gathering is ‘Unity of the Ummah’ to strengthen the Malay agenda, Islamic agenda and national unity,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Plans for the mega rally were first announced by Umno’s Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who is the party’s organiser for the event, which promises to be even larger than the rally to protest the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on December 8.

Tajuddin also said the charter on Umno-PAS cooperation would be launched at the rally.

This comes after PAS and Umno formally sealed their political cooperation at the Islamist party’s annual congress earlier this month. The motion for both parties, who were traditionally rivals, to work together was passed by delegates at the congress.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the coming rally was important to create awareness about Malay-Muslim solidarity.

“The aim is to mobilise the Malays and Muslims to a gathering to understand the importance of unity among the ummah (believers).

“There is no other motive for the rally, it’s not to threaten (anyone or any other parties),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Other Umno leaders have also welcomed the event, with Perak Umno chairman Saarani Mohamad saying it was proof that PAS and Umno can set aside their rivalry to work together.

“It shows there is an understanding between Umno and PAS. We will continue to help one another.”

Umno Supreme Council member Jalaluddin Alias said the rally was preparation for the next general election, which must be called by early 2023.

“With a formal charter, it shows we are prepared to face the 15th general election,” the Jelebu MP said.

PAS Youth member Khairil Nizam said the rally was not about being racists or upholding a particular race.

“This is not a gathering of racists. We want to tell non-Muslims not to be afraid. Our political enemies are bound to claim that the rally is a racist gathering.” – June 30, 2019.