Opposition leaders join rally in rare show of unity
Opposition leaders put aside their political differences to join yesterday’s government-backed Solidarity Rally for Jerusalem in a rare show of unity.
They commended the gathering as a good platform to bring Muslims together in light of issues surrounding the Palestinians’ rights.
Pas Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi, who represented his father, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, at the rally, shared a stage with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other government leaders.
Khalil said the rally united Malaysians from various backgrounds to support victims of Israeli oppression.
“We are all gathered here for no reason other than to demonstrate solidarity with Baitulmaqdis (Jerusalem), which is a holy land for Muslims. What we want to state today is that the Jews have no right to Palestinian land. There is no such thing as a ‘Palestinian state and an Israeli state’ on that land. There is only Palestine.
“We gather here regardless of our backgrounds. We are here as Malaysians to tell our brothers and sisters in Palestine that we are supporting them in taking back their rightful land one day,” Khalil said in a speech delivered on behalf of his father.
Hadi was expected to attend the rally, an event anticipated by many as it would be his third major appearance with Najib on a humanitarian and Islamic platform.
In 2015, Najib and Hadi took part in a forum organised by the alumni of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University. Last year, they came together to highlight the plight of the Rohingya.
But the absence of Hadi, who is also International Union of Muslim Scholars vice-president, did not dampen the crowd’s mood.
Khalil denied his father was unwell, and said the latter would attend future events on Jerusalem.
“I believe my father will remain committed to such events and this agenda. God-willing, he will attend other programmes in the future. I believe there will more.”
PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said such issues, including the latest on Jerusalem, should unite Muslims based on common interest.
“If there is an issue that can bring us together, it is freedom for Palestinians and Jerusalem. I congratulate Zahid for taking the initiative (to gather Muslim political leaders) from different parties. There needs to be commonality in issues involving Muslim interests,” he said during a special forum in conjunction with the rally at Masjid Putra.
He expressed confidence that the government would be more than capable of rendering aid to the Palestinians.
“As a government, Malaysia has an excellent record in managing conflicts involving Bosnians, Syrians, Rohingya and Uyghurs. On Palestine, we propose that the government set up a Palestinian diaspora coordination centre, or offer employment to a select few in Malaysia.”
The talk drew more than 1,000 people. Panellists include Palestine ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Dr Anwar H. Al Agha, Saifuddin and Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia president Dr Yusri Mohamad. National Missionary Council chairman Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abd Majid moderated.
Present was Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.