KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Umno today urged Malays to unite to regain federal power in the next election, amid a mass rally here today.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan claimed that since Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the May 9 polls, the Malays have not been respected by other communities.
“People do not respect us because we have lost power.
“The Malays must unite to regain power in the coming 15th general election,” he said in his speech at a rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) at Dataran Merdeka.
Subsequently, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today’s peaceful rally was to show the government the repercussion of acting against the interests of the people.
“This is the manifestation of the case where if Islam is disturbed, if the race (Malays) is disturbed, if our rights are disturbed, then we will rise to defend our rights.
“This gathering is to show the government that you cannot play around with the rakyat,” he said.
Zahid said the number of participants at the protest against the United Nations convention, which he claimed to be half a million people, was a sign that the people do not agree with the Pakatan Harapan administration.
Speaking at the rally was also PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who reminded Muslims to unite under a single banner against any attempts to challenge Islam and the rights of the Bumiputera.
Both Zahid and Hadi spoke to a roaring crowd who chanted “God is great” at each point of interest in their speech.
Despite lackluster winding-up speeches at the rally, both men received roaring applause and the crowd’s adoration.
