Silent protest supporting Uyghurs outside China-backed Xinjiang tourism event
Some 70 people representing various Muslim NGOs including PAS held a silent protest in support of China's Uyghurs today.
The protest was held outside the Bangi Avenue Convention Centre ahead of a cultural show tonight to promote tourism to Xinjiang - the province where over one million Uyghurs have reportedly been forced into "re-education camps" by Beijing.
Some 70 people representing various Muslim NGOs including PAS held a silent protest in support of China's Uyghurs today.
The protest was held outside the Bangi Avenue Convention Centre ahead of a cultural show tonight to promote tourism to Xinjiang - the province where over one million Uyghurs have reportedly been forced into "re-education camps" by Beijing.
The "Beautiful Xinjiang" cultural show is reportedly co-organised by China's embassy in Malaysia, the Malaysian Tourism Ministry and the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association. A similar show had reportedly been held in Kuantan on Thursday.
PAS was initially holding their protest at the cross-roads near the hotel, while members of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) and other NGOs gathered outside the venue. The PAS protesters eventually joined those of the other NGOs.
PAS Youth information chief Nazir Helmi said if further such cultural shows are organised, the party would not hesitate to hold a bigger protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
"I hope the government will respond and make a stand so that Malaysians are clear that the cruelty (being inflicted on the Uyghurs) is not supported by the Malaysian government even though we want to protect our ties with China," he said.
Abim vice-president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said the cultural show was one way through which Beijing was trying to control the narrative of what was going on in Xinjiang.
He urged Malaysian celebrities and athletes to be brave and speak up for the Uyghurs as done by footballer Mesut Ozil, MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov and singer Maher Zain.
China claims its "re-education" of Uyghurs is to curb extremism in the region. China's state media has released two documentaries detailing alleged terrorism in Xinjiang.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad acknowledged receiving information about the detention of Uyghurs but said he had not seen the documentaries yet.
"I have not seen it but I would like to see it. And, of course, we have to hear the stories told by both sides.
"We have to hear the state, we have to hear the people who complained, then only it will be fair," he said.
"But if I see only from one side, then it would not be fair," he said.
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