Anwar disagrees with Kelantan's 'holiday for demonstration'
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has disagreed with the Kelantan government declaring Dec 9 a “cuti peristiwa (occasional holiday)" to facilitate the travel plans of those attending a gathering in Kuala Lumpur the day before.
The gathering is to celebrate Putrajaya's decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), which detractors claimed would erode the position of bumiputera.
Anwar, who is no stranger to street protests, felt that a public holiday should not be declared for this purpose...
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has disagreed with the Kelantan government declaring Dec 9 a “cuti peristiwa (occasional holiday)" to facilitate the travel plans of those attending a gathering in Kuala Lumpur the day before.
The gathering is to celebrate Putrajaya's decision not to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), which detractors claimed would erode the position of bumiputera.
Anwar, who is no stranger to street protests, felt that a public holiday should not be declared for this purpose.
“This is my view. I don't think it is proper for a holiday to be given just for a demonstration,” he told reporters in Parliament this morning.
Read more: Anwar set to debate motion on Icerd, speaker clips his wings
Responding to a question, Anwar said there is no reason for him to attend the gathering, which is organised by several Muslim NGOs and backed by Umno and PAS.
He added that he respected the government's decision to not ratify the United Nations treaty.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the organisers invited Anwar and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the gathering, which is set to take place along Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur.
“We welcome anyone who wants to attend... and listen to the views of the people,” said programme director Kamaruzaman Mohamad.
He also confirmed that former premier Najib Abdul Razak would be in attendance.
Kamaruzaman said the gathering was not aimed at other races, but at “traitors” who sought to change what is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
PAS has estimated a turnout of more than 500,000 for the gathering.
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