The coalition of non-governmental organisations Himpun has again sounded its call for all Muslim groups and individuals, particularly Muslim leaders of political parties, to join this Saturday's anti-apostasy rally.

Its chairperson, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, said Muslim leaders from all parties must join the gathering as part of efforts to educate their co-religionists on the importance of protecting their faith and need to preserve their beliefs amidst Malaysian society's pluralism.

"Once again, we call on all Muslim leaders from all parties to be there at the rally this Saturday in the spirit of universal solidarity and to GMJ gerakan mansuhkan judi masjid negara rally mohd azmi abdul hamid hold up the trust (of this faith) that Allah has given us and to enhance the community's dignity ," Mohd Azmi ( in black s ongkok ) said in a statement last night.

The call comes on the heels of the decision by several leaders, particularly the heads of Pakatan Rakyat coalition parties, not to attend the event and that the members of their respective parties should also not participate.

The rally has won support from a number of Muslim NGOs, including groups seen as being close to Pakatan figures, such as Islamist group JIM.

Though Himpun had denied links to groups and individuals such as Perkasa and PKR-turned-Umno leader Ezam Mohd Nor, it has not been able to shed the image of being an Umno-sanctioned event, particularly after a minister gave his blessings yesterday to the rally and urged PAS to join.

‘No outside political influence'

Mohd Azmi, however, said that he respected PAS' decision on the grounds that the rally was the initiative of NGOs and should remain a non-political event.

"I believe this clarifies the situation, that there is no influence by any political party or agency linked as being an instrument of any political party in this event organised by Muslim NGOs.

"The agreement of government agencies and some semi-government and non-governmental organisations support was upon the invitation, of the Himpun secretariat.

"Leadership should proceed from the awareness of the trust and responsibility to Allah that we must hold fast to our aqidah (belief) in the one God and should not be for the interests of any political party," said Mohd Azmi.

The Himpun rally comes in the wake of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department-Damansara Utama Methodist Church controversy that saw state religious officials inspecting a thanksgiving dinner and question more than a dozen individuals following claims that there had been attempts to proselytise to Muslims at the Aug 3 function.

The Selangor sultan later decreed, however, that while there had been indications of proselytisation, there was insufficient evidence to justify legal action against any quarters.

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