KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — PKR has prohibited its members from taking part in the provocative September 16 rally ostensibly aimed at gathering Malays to counter the Chinese.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the demonstration, which is scheduled on Malaysia Day at Chinese-majority areas Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street in the city centre, could lead to racial discontent and disharmony.
“The ‘red shirt’ rally with clearly racial sentiments, if allowed, will bring down the very essence of value of our society, common decency and sense. On that premise, KEADILAN will not allow its members to attend the rally,” Dr Wan Azizah said in a statement.
The parliamentary opposition leader went to Bukit Bintang earlier today on a walkabout to extend a message of peace to Malaysians.
Although the police have prohibited the September 16 rally, organised by an unnamed group and alternatively called Himpunan Maruah Melayu or Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that Umno members were free to join the demonstration as long as they followed the law.
The rally, promoted through red shirts and provocative posters implying violence, is purportedly organised to counter the seeming Chinese domination of last month’s Bersih 4 rally for institutional reforms.
Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, who heads a group of Malay NGOs, has even warned non-Muslims to avoid the city on Malaysia Day to avoid “provocation” at the September 16 rally.
