PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat today witnessed lawmakers from both Pakatan Harapan and the opposition accuse each other of attempting to create disunity among Malaysians. 

RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) first asked Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) why Umno and PAS were backing the rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) planned for this weekend.

"Do you agree that unity is important? Why are there groups trying to split us apart?

"Why insist on the rally when there were calls against it?" he asked.

In response, Ahmad said that if authorities believed the rally would pose a threat, the police and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall would not have given organisers the go-ahead.

"The 'New Malaysia' allow rallies to be held," said the Umno supreme council member. 

Read more: The Icerd outrage: How it was sparked and the facts

Awang Hashim (PAS-Pendang) then stood up to defend the anti-Icerd rally.

"The rally is not meant to divide ethnic communities; we love all Malaysians, including the Chinese, Indians and Malays.

"The rally (we are going to hold) is only to serve as a warning and signal to the government, the ministries and the ministers, so that all of you will not cause chaos.

"That is what is divisive," he said.

At this point, Ahmad questioned why Putrajaya issued statements on the recent Seafield temple riots, but not on Icerd.

"I want the government to be serious (in dealing with Icerd), they should issue ministerial statements in Parliament.

"The home minister (Muhyiddin Yassin) and the prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) issued statements on the temple (riots). 

"So why can't the foreign minister (Saifuddin Abdullah) and de facto national unity minister (P Waythamoorthy) not make ministerial statements in the Dewan on Icerd? That is what we want to see," he said.

The rally against the United Nations instrument is organised by Gerakan Pembela Ummah, a coalition of Islamic NGOs, and with public backing from Umno and PAS.

Organisers had previously indicated that the rally would proceed despite Putrajaya walking back its planned ratification of the treaty.