Police not anticipating trouble at the Himpunan Sejuta Umat rally on Saturday, but are prepared for all contingencies.
PETALING JAYA: The police will be keeping an eagle eye on the planned “Himpunan Sejuta Umat” (Assembly of One Million Believers Defending the Faith) anti-apostasy rally to be held on Saturday at the Shah Alam stadium for signs of trouble, especially speeches that are deemed seditious.
“We’re ready. They cannot touch on sensitive issues that might disrupt the peace… anything that would come under Section 3 of the Sedition Act. We will have audio and video recordings and our team tangkapan (arrest units) are all ready for all possibilities,” said Shah Alam district police chief ACP Zahedi Ayob.
Zahedi said about a thousand personnel, including anti-riot squads, will be deployed to monitor the situation.
However, he added that police are not anticipating any trouble but are ready for all contingencies.
“We’re not anticipating any problems but we are ready. I’m made to understand the theme of the rally is simply about Muslim unity,” said Zahedi.
He said that he had no information that the rally would be dangerous, a threat to national security or unity. This is based on reports from the ground as well as the lack of police reports against the gathering, which plans to gather a million Muslims against alleged Christian proselytising.
Zahedi added that police do not expect the turnout to be one million. Asked if the permit for the indoor rally, approved on Oct 13 last week, could be revoked due to the sensitivity of the matter, he said it was unlikely but reminded organisers that conditions must be adhered to.
“I’ve imposed 22 conditions for them to follow and I’ve given them to the organisers, they will have to abide by them, ” he said.
Rally open to the public
Explaining the conditions, Zahedi said the gatherers cannot hold any processions while going in or out of the Shah Alam. They would have to park elsewhere and follow traffic instructions.
Rally-goers are also prohibited from exhibiting any affiliation to political parties. “They cannot wear anything that has the logos of Umno, MCA or MIC, for example. And they can’t use any banners with logos of political parties too. This must strictly be an NGO matter.”
Zahedi appealed to the public to keep calm about the impending gathering.
“The press should not play up the issue. It is a gathering of Muslims, that is all. It is open to public, anybody can join, please abide by the traffic directions of the police, so that it will be smooth going,” he said.
The Himpunan Sejuta Umat, called Himpun (http://himpun.org/), will include poetry recital, nasyid (singing of religious songs) and talks. The police permit allows the gathering to be held from 2pm to 6pm.
Despite organisers stressing that it is a peaceful matter, the Himpun gathering against the “Christianisation” of Muslims is feared to be aggravating religious and racial tension in the country.
Christian leaders have said such an event was “irrelevant” as there has been no solid proof of apostasy cases. Political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have distanced themselves from supporting the gathering.
PETALING JAYA: The police will be keeping an eagle eye on the planned “Himpunan Sejuta Umat” (Assembly of One Million Believers Defending the Faith) anti-apostasy rally to be held on Saturday at the Shah Alam stadium for signs of trouble, especially speeches that are deemed seditious.“We’re ready. They cannot touch on sensitive issues that might disrupt the peace… anything that would come under Section 3 of the Sedition Act. We will have audio and video recordings and our team tangkapan (arrest units) are all ready for all possibilities,” said Shah Alam district police chief ACP Zahedi Ayob.
Zahedi said about a thousand personnel, including anti-riot squads, will be deployed to monitor the situation.
However, he added that police are not anticipating any trouble but are ready for all contingencies.
“We’re not anticipating any problems but we are ready. I’m made to understand the theme of the rally is simply about Muslim unity,” said Zahedi.
He said that he had no information that the rally would be dangerous, a threat to national security or unity. This is based on reports from the ground as well as the lack of police reports against the gathering, which plans to gather a million Muslims against alleged Christian proselytising.
Zahedi added that police do not expect the turnout to be one million. Asked if the permit for the indoor rally, approved on Oct 13 last week, could be revoked due to the sensitivity of the matter, he said it was unlikely but reminded organisers that conditions must be adhered to.
“I’ve imposed 22 conditions for them to follow and I’ve given them to the organisers, they will have to abide by them, ” he said.
Rally open to the public
Explaining the conditions, Zahedi said the gatherers cannot hold any processions while going in or out of the Shah Alam. They would have to park elsewhere and follow traffic instructions.Rally-goers are also prohibited from exhibiting any affiliation to political parties. “They cannot wear anything that has the logos of Umno, MCA or MIC, for example. And they can’t use any banners with logos of political parties too. This must strictly be an NGO matter.”
Zahedi appealed to the public to keep calm about the impending gathering.
“The press should not play up the issue. It is a gathering of Muslims, that is all. It is open to public, anybody can join, please abide by the traffic directions of the police, so that it will be smooth going,” he said.
The Himpunan Sejuta Umat, called Himpun (http://himpun.org/), will include poetry recital, nasyid (singing of religious songs) and talks. The police permit allows the gathering to be held from 2pm to 6pm.
Despite organisers stressing that it is a peaceful matter, the Himpun gathering against the “Christianisation” of Muslims is feared to be aggravating religious and racial tension in the country.
Christian leaders have said such an event was “irrelevant” as there has been no solid proof of apostasy cases. Political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have distanced themselves from supporting the gathering.
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