14-07-2025
'Turun Anwar rally is more significant than ICERD protest for it concerns bread and butter, survival matters'
FORMER UMNO supreme council member Isham Jalil seems to have struck the chord with many man-on-the-street Malaysians as he rallied 'original UMNO' members to turn up in full force at the July 26 Turun Anwar gathering in Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.
His killer line that has inadvertently enabled the PAS-initiated rally gained even more momentum was that the issues to be raised at the Turun Anwar rally 'are of the same proportion if not bigger than ICERD' for they revolve around the livelihood and well-being of every ordinary Malaysian.
'At least the issues raised during ICERD only centred on our identity and had no bearing on bread and butter matters such as how to put food on the table,' he articulated with zest in a Facebook video which has since fetched 25K likes, 1.9K comments, 3.2K shares and 435K views.
'(The) current leaders couldn't care less, they go overseas negotiate while the country is saddled with billions in debts.'
The former UMNO information chief who was fired from the party on Dec 7, 2023 for disagreeing to cooperate with DAP in elections further called on the UMNO grassroots to toughen up in the event UMNO slaps them with disciplinary action.
'If UMNO wants to sack you, so be it as I've long been fired not to mention threatened to be thrown in jail,' he pointed out in a fiery tone.
'Don't tell me you guys are unable to withstand little pain … We should gather in full force … Make it like ICERD when UMNO members gathered in the millions.'
Jointly organised by PAS and UMNO, the Dec 8, 2018 ICERD rally was staged to protest against the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration's move to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as it was alleged such ratification was contrary to the Federal Constitution.
Added the once special officer to incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak:
Therefore, we need to show our utmost dissatisfaction to them with our protest … I know many of you disagree with the UMDAP alliance but are unable to voice your protest for fear of getting sacked from the party.
But given that the current situation is one of push comes to shove, don't let hesitation stand in between anymore … Imagine Rafizi (former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli) who previously bootlicked Anwar has started to oppose his former boss.
The time has come to stop pretending to accept the current UMDAP arrangement … Let the UMNO top brass see how they've lost touch with their grassroots.
Show them that you're not blindly adhering to their every call especially to participate in by-elections with DAP … There is really no point to convey your protest in silence at coffee shops or over the phone.
Show the party leaders your disgruntlement in a big way till their eyes pop out of their heads … No need to wear UMNO shirts, just turn out in full force.' – July 14, 2025
Main image credit: Ustaz Nurul Amin Hamid/Facebook
