KUALA LUMPUR: On Tuesday night, Police called up organisers of the rally rejecting the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), according to Umno secretary general Tan Seri Annuar Musa.
Annuar said that leaders from Muslim grouping Gerakan Pembela Ummah, several representatives from Umno and Islamist party PAS who are organising the rally on Dec 8 had met police from the Dang Wangi district for discussions.
Annuar said that the authorities have not yet given permission to hold the rally as yet.
“A permit has yet to be given, it’s still in the process of negotiation,“ he said at Parliament today.
“The organisers must ensure that it will be conducted peacefully, and that all racial issues must not come into play,“ he added.
The anti-ICERD rally was supposed to take place at Dataran Merdeka, but since the USJ25 temple riots this week, many fear that the event could stoke racial sentiments in the country.
Annuar said that the rally should not be linked to the temple incident.
“It should not be linked ... We must make sure the protest is peaceful,“ he said.
