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Muslim group: Anti-Bersih red shirts don't speak for Malays
Published:  Sep 7, 2015 5:20 PM
Updated: Sep 8, 2015 12:16 PM

A group of Muslim professionals today said that the red-shirt donning group which had planned for a counter rally against Bersih’s do not represent the voice of the Malay Muslims.

“Any call towards incitement of racial strife must be dealt with swiftly. We urge the Royal Malaysian Police Force to once again act with professionalism to maintain peace and order in these uncertain times,” the group said in a statement today.

The professionals believe that the threat by the red shirts has not completely passed, for a rally dubbed 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' (People's Rally) is being planned for Malaysia Day.

“The location chosen for the rally, the depiction of a keris-wielding warrior with an incendiary caption underneath its promotional posters dispel any doubts that the intent is one of provocation and intimidation.

“As a community, we have admittedly lost a major portion of our honour and dignity. Despite all the supposed advantages, we lag behind in many areas – education, share of the nation’s wealth and economic pie and a relatively small middle class. And fare the worst in terms of social ills that blight our younger generation.

The group however believes that honour and dignity are not redeemed by blaming other races whilst helping an embattled political elite.

“(This political elite) who proclaim ‘ berjuang untuk agama dan bangsa ’ (fight for the race and religion) cling to power, but has lost the legitimacy to govern on account of being weighed down by serious allegations of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power.

“One redeems one’s honour and dignity by upholding the principles of truth and justice, holding accountable those whom trust and responsibility has been placed on their shoulders.

“We redeem our honour and dignity by remaining true to the moral teachings of Islam and exposing the hypocrisy of those who use religion to cling to power."

Meant to counter Bersih 4 rally

The statement today was endorsed by the following Muslim individuals and organisations: Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF), Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM), Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imam), Dr Amir Farid Isahak, JIHAD For JUSTICE, We are Malaysians, Malaysian Indian Muslim Action Council, Ipoh Tamil Muslim Development Association, Persatuan Kebajikan Muslim Kinta, G25, Persatuan Promosi Harmoni Malaysia, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Pertubuhan Pemuda GEMA Malaysia, Research and Information Centre on Islam (RICOI) and Maszlee Malik, president of IIUM Academic Staff Association.

The group may have its concerns, but its worry will hopefully be allayed after deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim was quoted by Bernama as saying that the planned Sept 16 rally was barred due to security reasons .

The rally, reportedly planned to be held at the Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street areas, is meant to counter the Bersih 4 rally held on Aug 29 and 30.

The rally is backed by 500 Malay NGOs to show Malay unity and defend Malay dignity, Gabungan NGO-NGO Malaysia chairperson Jamal Md Yunos told Utusan Malaysia .

The group expects 300,000 people to turn up for the rally.

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