Islamic welfare organisation Pekida has denied that it is organising a rally for Malays in the Kampung Baru area of Kuala Lumpur on Dec 16.

Pekida Federal Territory chairperson Mazni Abdul Ghani said the organisation was not aware of any such assembly.

“There are people trying to use Pekida’s name, but we’re not involved at all,” he said when asked to comment on speculation about the gathering.

“These irresponsible parties are destroying our good reputation in order to attract Malays to participate.”

A rumour about the purported rally has been circulating via SMS over the last few days. The text-message claims that a gathering will be held at the Sultan Sulaiman Club hall in Kampung Baru from 7.30am.

According to Mazni, if Pekida’s name continues to be associated with the rumour, it will not hesitate to lodge a police report in order to clear its name.

“They are trying to pit us against the authorities, although we’ve never being against the government,” he said.

He believes that the SMS is a follow-on from the Hindraf rally on Nov 25.

‘Unnecessary gatherings’

An Umno Titiwangsa division leader, who requested anonymity, also said that his group is not organising any assembly.

“These gatherings are unnecessary because they can further incite racial sentiments,” he said.

He advised the public, particularly Kampung Baru residents, to stay calm and not to be influenced by emotions and racial sentiments.

The Hindraf rally proceeded despite the denial of a police permit, in an attempt to submit a memorandum to the British High Commission.

This was in relation to Hindraf’s US$4 trillion lawsuit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaya as indentured labourers in the 1880s and exploiting them for 150 years.