PUTRAJAYA: Those taking part in the “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” rally today have been warned to stay away from racial sensitivities or face action.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said they must not bring banners and posters with words that touch on racial sensitivities and other matters stated under the Sedition Act.
“The police have set several conditions like no banners or posters with sensitive words during the march from five locations to Padang Merbok.
“The police will seize such banners and posters.
We will take action like we did during the Bersih rally,” he said after meeting participants of the Asean Ride convoy here yesterday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said that although the organiser, the National Silat Federation (Pesaka), had obtained the permit to hold the gathering, the police would be closely monitoring those taking part.
He also reiterated that the rally was not an Umno-backed programme but organised by a group of NGOs out to tell others not to insult people.
“I hope the message is understood by all. As a multi-racial country with people from various cultural and religious background, we have to have respect for one another,” added Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is Home Minister.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, told the rally organiser to cancel the event as they were not fighting for the Malays.
“There is no need for the rally. They are organising it because they claimed the Bersih rally was racist,” he said after delivering a keynote address at the Perdana Global Peace Foundation here.
The Bersih rally, said Dr Mahathir, was not racist as all races were there.
“So, they make Bersih racist to show that (in today’s rally) they are championing the Malays,” he said.
