More than 500 people joined a prayer for peace and economic progress in Brickfields today, amid concerns over a Sept 16 rally by Malay NGOs over purported insult to Malay leaders.

The 10-hour prayer session which started at 7.30am next to the Scott Road Murugan Temple was organised by the Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of Malaysia, an interfaith organisation.

Coalition Gabungan NGO-NGO Melayu earlier said it will join a rally to "defend Malay dignity", following the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29 and 30, which the coalition claimed offended Malays.

Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of Malaysia president Dr Suresh Govind said the group hopes to send "love and peace" through today's prayer session.

"Prayers have powerful vibrations hence prayers in all religions if sent out with love and peace will have positive outcomes.

"We are also praying for all Malaysians not to get agitated easily.

"We are the makers of peace and happiness and all Malaysians can unite to be a chain of binding force to bring the nation and all races together.

"As a nation, there are ups and downs, since happiness is the interval between two sorrows and vice versa," he said.

The NGOs, dubbed the 'red shirts' for the colour of their T-shirts of choice, yesterday reportedly held a motorcycle convoy in Kuala Lumpur as a show of strength.

The rally was initially dubbed 'Himpunan Maruah Melayu' (Rally for Malay Dignity) as was meant to be held at the Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street areas of Kuala Lumpur in retaliation for the Bersih 4 rally.

Gabungan NGO-NGO Melayu president Jamal Md Yunos (photo) said the venue was chosen because most of the traders there are ethnic Chinese, and should now face the same losses allegedly incurred by the mostly Malay traders at the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman area where the Bersih 4 rally was held.

Violence will set us back

However, yesterday Jamal said the group will just gather at Padang Merbok and follow the lead of the National Silat Federation (Pesaka).

Pesaka said while the rally it calls 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' was also to protest alleged insult to Malay leaders at Bersih 4, it does not condone racial violence , nor do participants need to wear red.

Pesaka said the red shirts are invited to join but must remain peaceful.

Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of Malaysia adviser J Jagadeesan said the Malay NGOs have the right to assembly but must do so peacefully.

"If the red shirt rally is peaceful, then Malaysia can stand proud and send a message to the world that we are a matured democratic nation."

However, he added if there is violence, it will set back all the great work the Malaysian leadership has done over the years.

"We must show the world that we are a majority moderate islamic nation that others can emulate."

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