In solidarity with Najib, MIC to hold prayer session on Jan 6

Summary

• MIC will be holding special prayers for former premier Najib Abdul Razak in Batu Caves instead of joining the rally outside the Palace of Justice on Jan 6.

• Its deputy president M Saravanan welcomes the Indian community to join the prayer session.

• MCA says it will no longer mobilise its members to join the rally, but won’t bar them from attending in their personal capacity either.

MIC will not be joining the Jan 6 rally outside the Palace of Justice in support of former premier Najib Abdul Razak.

Instead, it would hold special prayers for Najib at the Batu Caves Murugan Temple at 11am, on Jan 6.

“We also welcome the Indian community to join us for these prayers, to collectively pray and wish for Najib to obtain justice,” said MIC deputy president M Saravanan in a statement today.

Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that his party has called off its rally slated for Jan 6 for Najib, who would be attending a court hearing regarding the purported royal addendum allowing him to serve his remaining prison sentence at home.

This comes after a decree from Istana Negara on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s pardon prerogative and a warning from the inspector-general of police not to attend the rally.

“Umno will never act contrary to the Constitution and remains committed to respecting all rules and laws as decreed by His Majesty, the Agong.

“In line with the principle of upholding His Majesty’s decree and following the directive from the inspector-general of police, Umno has decided not to proceed with the assembly scheduled for Jan 6.

“Umno places its full confidence in the benevolence and wisdom of the king, in delivering full justice to Najib,” Asyraf was reported as saying.

Not against Agong’s decree

Elaborating, Saravanan said the solidarity gathering does not contravene the Agong’s decree, adding such assemblies are a democratic right and must be viewed as separate from the formal processes which the palace had emphasised earlier.

“As Najib seeks to address alleged ethical concerns surrounding the judicial process on Monday, I firmly believe that his right to a fair and impartial judicial review must be upheld.

“Justice must always be served in a manner that is transparent and beyond reproach,” the former minister stressed.

MCA changes mind, but…

MCA said it has decided not to mobilise members to attend the rally in light of Umno’s cancellation and statements by the police and Istana Negara.

However, it would not bar its members from joining the rally in their personal capacity.

“MCA remains consistent on the issue of the royal addendum for house detention for Najib, emphasising that the government must be transparent about whether such an addendum existed during the tenure of the 16th Agong.

“The government must uphold and honour all directives from the king at all times in accordance with the Federal Constitution,” it added.

It should be noted that while Umno had backed out of the rally, PAS has vowed to press ahead with several other Malay NGOs.

Putrajaya district police chief Aidi Sham Mohamed has confirmed they have yet to receive an application from PAS to organise the demonstration.

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