KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan Pembela Ummah has put forward 10 demands to preserve and protect the special rights of Malays in the country, under the administration of the Pakatan Harapan government.
In the first ever Himpunan Ummah today, its chief secretariat Aminuddin Yahaya said the special rights and privileges of Muslims have been under threat since PH took over the government and that it hadn’t done anything to enhance or improve the positions of the Malays in the country.
“The word Malaysia Baru which comes with a range of changes, however, has not done any good to safeguard and protect the special rights of the majority but instead has seemed as challenging and threatening the Malays.
“Our special rights and privileges stated in the Federal Constitution are at stake as the new leaders make alteration to the existing systems in the government,” he said, citing the government’s move to recognise Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
The peaceful gathering which started at 9am was attended by about 2,000 people from all over the country. There were 20 speakers including those from both sides of the political sphere, Pakatan Harapan as well as Barisan Nasional who took the stage in detailing out the threat against Malays special rights.
There were also speakers from Pas, Gapena, PPIM, Perkasa and prominent individuals who were invited to speak at the half a day ‘Himpunan Kebangkitan Ummah’ rally at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman field in Kampung Baru here, this morning.
Aminuddin expressed his disappointment and said the PH government has not done much to uphold what is stated in the Federal Constitution.
The 10 demands to the government, he said, included no compromise in enforcing Malay rights, which covered among others, reserve land, education system and job opportunities in the government sector; ceasing any fund for private vernacular schools and avoid any form of polarisation; discouraging or disallow foreign ideology practices such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT); no intervention on Mara issues that would be in violation of the Federal Constitution as well as putting an end to mockery or the act of questioning special rights of the Malay majority.
Speaking on the UEC proposed by to be recognised by the end of the year by PH, he said the move would disrupt the national unity and put Bahasa Melayu, which was the country’s unifying factor, at risk.
“This must not be allowed to happen for the sake of all. We will be sending a memorandum against the UEC to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed soon,” he said.
Gerakan Pembela Ummah is expected to have a nationwide roadshow to spread its cause and champion the Malay majorities special rights.
Among those who were present were Tan Seri Rais Yatim (PPBM), Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Nasrudin Hassan and Nik Abduh Nik Aziz (from Pas); as well as as Umno leaders Datuk Lokman Noor Adam and Datuk Seri Asyraf Wajidi.
Meanwhile, Rais while speaking on stage said opinioned that the UEC is included into the country’s mainstream education system.
He said this was to standardise the system while avoiding unnecessary confusion in the studying syllabus at schools.
Rais said the interest of the majority must be put into consideration in any of the decisions by the government.