"We mean business," said Malay Action Front (BBM) coordinator Ibrahim Ali today on the intended gathering on Sunday, stressing time and time again, the reason for the rally is to achieve Malay unity.

He said that the rally at Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur will be peaceful, apolitical and without provocation from any party.

"We want to gather peacefully for the Malays to realise their rights and privileges," he said at a press conference today.

The gathering, called Tak Akan Melayu Hilang Di Dunia (The Malays will not perish from this earth), at the Sultan Sulaiman Club at Kampung Baru on Sunday beginning at 2pm is expected to attract some 10,000 people.

He said the gathering will include many Malay leaders who will speak on the need for the race to start asserting their rights.

All Malays welcome

Stating that the Malay race had been docile for a long time, Ibrahim said the time had now come for the race to uphold Malay sovereignty.

He added that all Malays are welcome to join the gathering, irrespective of their political belief.

"This is not a political movement. We don't want to politicise this matter. We won't talk politics as well," he added.

Ibrahim (photo, centre) , a former MP for Pasir Mas and an ex-deputy minister, said BBM has invited all Malay political leaders, including those from Umno, PAS and Keadilan, as well as various non-governmental organisations to attend the gathering.

When asked the effect of the gathering on the Malay unity talks between Umno and PAS, Ibrahim reiterated that the gathering was a non-political event for the Malays to fight for their rights.

"The talks between Umno and PAS are political measures for Malay unity," said Ibrahim, adding that the movement was not backed by Umno or its Youth division.

No politics

"You can say what we are doing is to complement the efforts undertaken by Umno," he added.

"As I said, we don't allow politics in this gathering. We will only talk on Malay matters."

When asked how the other races will perceive this gathering, Ibrahim believed they will see it in a positive manner.

He also said that the gathering was not a result of the calls made by Chinese lobby group Suqiu which had called for the abolishment of the distinction between Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra in its 17-point appeal which was released before the 1999 general elections.

Certain quarters took exception to the requests and it was subsequently made to put aside the sensitive requests following a meeting with Umno Youth recently.

Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeals) also sought the restoration of democracy and other basic democratic principles such as those related to equality between ethnic communities, human rights and judicial autonomy.

Defending Malay sovereignty

Ibrahim also said that the movement was set up to carry the torch of the Malay race.

"The Malay race has a strong platform as there are many other movements too but until now we have been very polite in not vocally asking for our rights to the protected and upheld," he said, adding that BBM enjoyed the support of other Malay organisations.

"We are not an extremist movement. We just want to protect our rights. At the same time, we realise other races also can have movements calling for the protection of their rights," he added.

"We don't condemn their right to do so and we don't question their citizenship rights. What we don't want is for them (the other races) to question our sovereignty," he added.

Narrating in detail the historical Malay figures of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, Ibrahim said those two warriors depicted the two faces of the Malay race.

"Both were loyal Malays with different approaches. Their kris , which is a Malay symbol, can be offensive as well as defensive," he added.

Getting offensive

He said the Malays were getting into an offensive mode now and this was portrayed by the picture of hand with a kris against a red background in their publicity posters for the gathering.

BBM pro-tem chairman Mazlan Harun said members of other races too could attend the gathering.

"I don't think there is any danger. They can come and listen if they are interested," he said.

He also said a united Malay race will provide a better base for national unity.