Ummah Rally Sky Opens Up As Rallygoers Seek Shelter

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The rally to "defend Islam" organised by pro-Islam Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) group kicked off in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon
The rally is expected to start in Masjid Jamek after the Zuhur prayers and will end in Sogo, where NGO and political leaders are slated to appear on the same stage
Ummah, which is a coalition of Muslim NGOs, had last year organised a rally against the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd)
The Dec 8 rally, formally backed by Umno and PAS leaders, was at the time announced as a protest against Icerd, but it later proceeded as a "thanksgiving rally" after Putrajaya backed down from its plans to ratify the UN human rights instrument
3pm: Sogo - Heavy rain breaks up the Ummah rally, with a part of the crowd moving to seek shelter
The speakers, however, continue with their speeches and those who remain put on raincoats or share umbrellas
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man takes to the stage in the rain
The crowd size is beginning to dwindle
2.45pm: Sogo - Akhmal Haris, 48, says he travelled from Jerlun, Kedah to join the rally
He carries a placard that reads: "TMJ helps the people see the light about the Rome Statute"
However, Akhmal says he didn't join the rally today because of the Rome Statute but more to his general dissatisfaction against the Pakatan Harapan government
"I joined the rally today not because of the Rome Statute but due to my unhappiness at the government
"The current government appears to be putting pressure on the people, not only on the Rome Statute but various other issues," he says
Crowd swells to more than 1,0002.10pm: Sogo - Chants of "Daulat Tuanku" and "Allahuakbar" ring out. Some 400 people, including from Umno and PAS, gather here
Their numbers quickly swell to over 1,000 after the crowd from Masjid Jamek joins in
Former Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Rafii addresses the crowd, stating that among the reasons they are gathering is that justice has yet to be served over the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim
"Today is the world firefighter day... he died in vain. If we do not defend him, who will?" he says
Muhammad Adib was injured and subsequently passed away during the Seafield Temple riots in Subang Jaya in November last year
Some 30 traffic police officers are deployed to control the flow of traffic
Around 60 police officers from district police headquarters in Sentul, Dang Wangi and Cheras are also maintaining order
PAS, which is supporting the rally, has also deployed some 200 personnel from its Unit Amal volunteer corpProtesters carry placards backing TMJ at KL rally2.05pm: Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman -  A protester is seen carrying a placard professing support for Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim
The placard reads: "TMJ loved by the people, Mahathir loved by Saddiq"
TMJ refers to the Johor crown prince while Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman are the Bersatu chairperson and youth chief respectively
Another protester carried the placard: "TMJ, continue with your struggle"
Other protesters also carried pictures of princes from the Johor royal household as the march from Masjid Jamek to Sogo
PAS, Umno leaders in the frontline as crowd moves towards Sogo1.50pm:  Sogo - Top PAS and Umno leaders join a few hundred people moving from Masjid Jamek towards Sogo, chanting "Bangkit Ummah" and "Hidup Islam"
Also in the front line are PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Umno Youth chief Ashraf Wajdi Dusuki
Ummah deputy chairperson Kamaruzaman Mohamad earlier addresses the crowd, warning against any acts of provocation by the crowd
He also notes the rally participants today include those from Kelantan and Terengganu
"Why does he sound like (PKR deputy president) Azmin (Ali)?" quipped a supporter before joining the surging crowd
More expected to attend1.30pm: Sogo - Some 50 people gather here, which is as one of the gathering points for the rally
Some of the participants are clad in T-shirts that read: "Daulat Tuanku, the people are with you". They also carry images of the Malay rulers
Joining the group is Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam. He expects more will turn up soon
"We can't estimate how many will turn up, but it will the area will be filled up
"We have made a nationwide call for people to turn up," he says
Many rally participants also ask to take photographs with Lokman
Along the sidelines, businesses have also set up stalls to sell T-shirts with the words ‘Muslim Unity’ (Penyatuan Ummah)
Ummah supporters start gathering opposite LRT station1.15pm: Masjid Jamek - Rally organiser Ummah deputy chairperson Kamaruzaman Mohamad addresses the crowd of their movement plans
"After this, we will all go inside the mosque and perform the Zuhr prayers together
"After that, we will come out and gather here again, before we start moving to Sogo led by various NGO leaders," he says moments before the call to afternoon prayers rang from the nearby Masjid Jamek mosque
Among NGOs at the scene include Benar Malaysia, Sedar Malaysia, and other Malay-Muslim groups
Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam arrives in Sogo, rather than joining the rally’s procession
1pm: Masjid Jamek LRT - Supporters of the Gerakan Pembela Ummah (Ummah) rally to "defend Islam" start gathering opposite the Masjid Jamek LRT station
The initial crowd of around 100 people appears to comprise Umno and PAS supporters wearing their party colours, and others mostly in white or the rally's T-shirt. At least 10 traders are selling various designs of T-shirts and scarves
Picture: Ahmad MaslanShortly after, Umno's Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan arrives and greets the traders and supporters
Also seen is a team from PAS Unit Amal, on duty for today's rally after Zuhur prayers and later moving towards Sogo
Stern police action warnedTo recap, Ummah deputy chairperson Kamaruzaman Mohamad had said today's rally will touch on current issues that have allegedly threatened the nation's sovereignty, such as the Rome Statute, the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, and the United Examination Certificate (UEC)
The rally has been framed as a gathering to defend Islam, Malays and the royalty
PAS has mobilised its members and supporters to join today's Ummah rally while Umno leaders including Lokman Noor Adam had pledged attendance
In a media interview earlier this week, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin warned stern police action against those who insult any religion, describing the demonstration as a possible attempt to incite Muslims
There have been a series of arrests and charges in recent months against individuals who allegedly insulted religions, with one of the latest cases involving 35-year-old preacher Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, accused of insulting Hinduism in a sermon. - Mkini

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