By Niza Shimi
It was unprecedented in Malaysia. A massive turnout of people protesting on the streets of Kuala Lumpur may not be unusual, but these were mainly Malay Muslims. The passive community rarely shows emotion and, in this case, unity.
It was a sea of people dressed in white stretching from Dataran Merdeka to the Chow Kit area. It was the Anti-ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) Rally or Himpunan Aman Bantah ICERD (Malay) held on 8 December 2018.
The rally was organised by the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), with various non-governmental organisations.
It was held in response to the new Malaysian government's (Pakatan Harapan headed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) plan to ratify the United Nations convention known as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The rally protests the ratification of the convention, as it is contrary to the Constitution of Malaysia. The constitution recognizes special rights for the Malay and Bumiputra. The government withdrew its plan to ratify the convention on 23 November 2018. (Source: Wikipedia)
It was a peaceful celebration of the government's decision not to ratify rather than a protest. The rally was mostly filled with rousing speeches from leaders, some were politicians, with shouts of Takbir followed by Allahu Akbar (God is great) in unison.
For the observers, it was during prayer time that the wave of white seemed most arresting. When the azan (Muslim call to prayer) was heard, the massive crowd automatically formed rows (saf) in Islamic congregational prayer.
The discipline taught since a Muslim child can toddle, to unite and fall behind an imam, is enshrined in the Malay Muslim psyche. No matter how rich or powerful, all must prostrate before the Almighty. All are equal in faith.
Writing in Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia (forsea.co), lawyer and former Singapore student leader living in political exile in London, Tan Wah Piow, likens the anti-ICERD rally to the 1936 Battle of Cable Street in London when Jews in the East End prevented Fascists from marching into their area.
Tan writes: “Although Dr Mahathir has the majority in parliament, the government does not enjoy the electoral support of the majority of Malay voters, many of whom reside in rural areas. The need of the incumbent to tiptoe around issues – things which could upset those voters who have yet to embrace wholeheartedly the reality of a multi-racial, multi-religious country – is a cause of great regret to a liberal activist. But this is real politik.”
The crowd that turned up at the anti-ICERD rally shows that the way to win the hearts and minds of the Malay Muslim populace is to respect their race and religion. Attack either one, they will automatically fall in formation behind their leader.
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