KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — As the city braces for a rally to defend Malay dignity tomorrow, a civil society group has come up with a plan to counter what they claim is the former event’s racist messaging - by having a picnic.

Drawing the focus on food and love, Malaysians for Malaysia is organising a potluck get-together at the KLCC park as a celebration of the country’s racial and culinary diversity as Malaysia turns 52 tomorrow.

“Although it is a picnic, it is a demonstration of defiance against those who want to forward a prejudiced and hate-filled agenda. We won’t have it,” the group’s spokesman Azrul Mohd Khalib told Malay Mail Online.

Azrul said the picnic, scheduled from 3pm to 6pm, was mooted two weeks ago after news spread of a planned Himpunan Maruah Melayu or Malay Dignity Rally on September 16 to counter what the rally proponents claimed were attacks on Malay leaders during the recent Bersih 4 demonstration.

In the run-up to the Malaysia Day rally, posters were seen around the city warning of Malays shedding the blood of the Chinese over the perceived insult against Malay leaders allegedly by participants of the overnight Bersih rally over the Merdeka weekend.

Gabungan NGO-NGO Melayu Chairman Datuk Jamal Md Yunos - who claimed to be the spokesman for the rally organisers - even advised non-Muslims against coming to the city on the day of the rally to avoid provoking demonstrators, though he denied responsibility for the posters.

Azrul today said the behaviour of the proponents of the “red shirts” rally, so-called for their choice of t-shirt colour, has left a bad taste in the mouth for many Malaysians who do not want a racial event to mar the significance of Malaysia Day.

He said people feel outraged by the fact that the rally may end up being the image that will mark the anniversary of the formation of the country, lending weight to their planned picnic.

“Imagine it’s Malaysia Day, and for the past two weeks all we’ve heard about what the ‘red shirts’ have been going on about.

“It is very significant for us to see that Malaysians don’t want to be intimidated by the messages of violence, bloodshed and fear that have been spread.

“People want to be able to come out and show their love for the country in this way... but they are concerned about the air quality,” Azrul said, adding that they expect around 100 people to attend depending on the haze situation.

Even as tomorrow’s rally draws near, contradictory messages have been given by Jamal and silat organisation Pesaka, which has been named the organiser of a Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu or United People’s Rally.

While Jamal maintained that their rally centres on upholding Malay dignity, Pesaka President Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam said their rally - which will incidentally run at the same time and venue - is a gathering for unity and open to all Malaysians, and that their dress code is black.