Ambiga upset Human Rights Day rally not held same day as the anti-ICERD rally
(The Star) – Activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (pic) has criticised authorities over the postponement of the Human Rights Day celebration by one day.
It will now be held on Sunday (Dec 9).
In a series of tweets on Friday (Dec 7), the former Bersih chairman and Bar Council president described the postponement of the celebration by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) as akin to “giving in to bullies”.
“Asking Suhakam to cancel an event that celebrates International Human Rights Day which many have done for years and years. Wow! That’s a first. So now we celebrate by cancelling events rather than having them! Great. And we were on the Human Rights Council!”
“So how are you guys celebrating Human Rights Day? Cancelling any events?” she sarcastically questioned.
Human Rights Day is 10 December, not 8 December like Ambiga wants
Ambiga subsequently trained her guns at Pakatan Harapan ministers, accusing them of being “easily spooked” by rallies.
“We have many excellent ministers. But they are getting too easily spooked by rallies!
“Our police are good and have no problem dealing with two peaceful rallies held at different times and at different places,” she added.
In a press conference on Friday (Dec 7), Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said they would postpone the celebration by one day to Sunday (Dec 8) at the same venue.
With the postponement, the celebration will be held at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya from 9am to 3pm on Sunday.
“The Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) said that he would not be attending the celebration and advised Suhakam to postpone it.
“We have taken his advice into consideration and will postpone our celebrations to the same time and venue the following day on Sunday (Dec 9),” said Razali.
Dr Mahathir was supposed to attend the Suhakam event on Saturday as the chief guest.
The Human Rights Day celebration was originally scheduled to take place on the same day as the anti-Icerd rally being held in Kuala Lumpur, which is supposed to be attended by up to 500,000 Umno and PAS members.
