Leaders from Umno and PAS joined over 300 Malay-Muslims NGOs at a rally calling for the defence of their race and religion from elements supposedly out to take away their rights.

This includes former minister Rais Yatim, now a member of Bersatu.

Other leaders in attendance at today's Himpunan Kebangkitan Ummah (Rise of the Ummah) were PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, information chief Nasrudin Hassan, central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam and former Federal Territories Umno youth chief Razlan Rafii.

Rais even addressed the thousand-strong crowd gathered at the Sultan Sulaiman Club field in Kuala Lumpur.

In a fiery speech, he reiterated the recent calls against the Harapan administration's proposed recognition of independent Chinese schools' Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

"We can't have more than one system (of examinations) in Malaysia. Look at Singapore, look at Indonesia, look at India... all countries have only one system.

"So why are we pushing for two system of examination?" 

Rais also urged the crowd to continue resisting any apparent attempts to undermine the Federal Constitution on matters pertaining to Malay culture, rights and religion.

"One of the ways for us to continue (resisting) is to not stop stating that in this country, there should only be one system of examination," he said.

At the rally, which began at 9am, various NGO leaders spoke against alleged threats to Malays and Muslims, purportedly supported by the current Harapan government.

When PAS' Nasrudin got up to speak, he urged the people to rise and defend Islam, alleging that the Harapan administration has given space to certain quarters to attack the religion. 

"In short, the space given to those who would threaten Islam is getting wider by the day.

"There is also pressure and threats from various parties who are attempting to threaten the sanctity of Islam," the Temerloh MP claimed.

'Rights being undermined'

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who was also present at the rally, later told reporters he believed the rally was a representation of public concerns which must be taken seriously by the present administration.

"I believe in the power of the people's voice. 

"And the people's voice, that transcends political belief, clearly states the concerns of the majority that their rights are being undermined by those who are in power today," he said.

Throughout the rally, the crux of the claims centered around that there were alleged efforts by certain quarters – said to be backed by the new government – to undermine constitutionally-guaranteed Malay-Muslim rights.

Some NGO leaders also zeroed in on Malay-Muslim politicians in government for allegedly failing to protect the rights of the country's majority, but instead bowing down to demands of minorities.

Among others, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman accused de facto Religious Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa as having failed in his duties to protect the rights of Muslims.

He also accused Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu of being a "communist sympathiser" now entrusted with protecting the country's security.

On the issue of UEC recognition, the speakers hit out at Education Minister Maszlee Malik, whom they accused of kowtowing to DAP demands.

The rally today ended with a short prayer at about 1.30pm. after speeches from 20 speakers.

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