No need to have rally – Muhyiddin

PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reiterates that there is no need for any form of rally pertaining to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) now that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has decided not to ratify it.

“The government has decided that it will not ratify ICERD so all parties must respect the decision,” he said in a press conference at his ministry here yesterday.

The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement issued on Nov 23 stated that the PH government would not ratify ICERD and would continue to uphold the Federal Constitution, in which the social contract was agreed upon by representatives of all races in the formation of the country.

Subsequently, Gerakan Pembela Ummah secretariat chief Aminuddin Yahaya reportedly said the Dec 8 rally to continue at the Dataran Merdeka as a celebratory gathering.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported to have said the rally would continue, although PAS welcomed the government’s decision not to recognise ICERD.

Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said that Umno would join the rally as a way to say ‘thank you’ to the government’s decision not to ratify ICERD.

Muhyiddin said if the assembly’s original purpose was to protest against the ratification of the ICERD and now turned into a ‘thank you’ rally, better for it to be held at the mosque instead.

“If they want to express the gratitude they can do it in the mosque with a ‘doa selamat’ for country’s peace and harmony. It is more beautiful.

“Hence, my advice is, there is no need to hold a rally. (Organising) the gathering is expensive, to buy t-shirts and various stuff. Save the money for other shopping,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the Home Ministry (KDN) would approve the application for the permit if the organisers complied with the set regulations.

“If they insist on protesting against ICERD even though it will not be ratified, we will then look at the Peaceful Assembly Act. They must adhere to the existing rules. If they comply to the rules then we will approve it,” he said. - Bernama