About 100 representatives from Malay-Muslim NGOs today held a protest against Malaysia's commitment to ratify the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).

Chanting calls for Muslims and Malays to unite against alleged attempts to threaten the sovereignty of race and religion, the group's representatives gathered about a kilometre away from Parliament's main gate.

"To hell with Icerd! Down with Icerd! We reject Icerd!" chanted the crowd as they lifted placards with similar messages warning against alleged attempts to sacrifice the nation's sovereignty through ratification of the UN human rights convention.

The group also brought along a coffin that according to them symbolised the "death" of Malay-Muslims in the country.

At about 11am, the group was met by top PAS leaders, including party president Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz,who accompanied the group's representatives into the Parliament building to submit a memorandum to the government.

Also seen were several Umno Youth grassroots members.

Among the Malay-Muslim NGOs involved in the protest were Muafakat, Isma, Gamis, PPIM and Perkid.

At around 12.30pm, the group's 10 representatives left the Parliament building, led by Ummah coalition chairperson Aminuddin Yahya.

Future protests

When asked about Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remark this morning that the government will seek to engage in discussions with all races before ratifying Icerd, Aminuddin said the premier's comments were welcomed. 

"That is a right statement that there should be a discussion with all parties, not just certain parties, before statements are made by any ministers.

"So we welcome the statement and we await an invitation for us to discuss the matter," he said.

At the same time, Aminuddin also stressed that the group would not back down from its demands for the government to review its decision to ratify the treaty.

In addressing his supporters, Aminuddin earlier warned that a larger protest would be mobilised if the government ignored their demands.

"If the government ignores our memorandum, we will move, we will mobilise more people to rise and oppose Icerd.

"Not just one or two thousand, but tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands people...," he said.

Aminuddin also said the group's 11-point memorandum was handed over to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, followed by a meeting with opposition MPs led by Tuan Ibrahim.

At a separate press conference, Tuan Ibrahim said PAS supports objections against Icerd, arguing that its ratification would directly impinge on special rights of the Malays under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

He also claimed that ratification of Icerd and other related treaties could eventually lead to the decriminalisation of apostasy, as well as recognition of LGBT rights.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa said on Monday that bumiputera rights would not be affected by Icerd because the latter would not change what had been stipulated in the constitution.