Organisers of tomorrow’s Gerakan Selamatkan Shariah rally expect over 1,500 participants

(Focus) – The Gerakan Selamatkan Shariah rally at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya tomorrow is expected to be attended by over 1,500 people, including PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and his party leadership.

Gerakan Selamatkan Shariah organising secretary Mohd Aswanizam Alias said they had received confirmation of at least 500 attendees from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) so far, but expects the numbers to triple to 1,500.

“We can estimate the crowd to be numbering 500 since they have confirmed their participation. But given there will be a public crowd and 11th hour inclusions we expected the numbers to triple to 1,500 or even higher,” he told Scoop.

The rally is being organised by several NGOs and backed by political parties to spread awareness and urge the Islamic stakeholders in the country to take action in line with the decree of the Sultan of Selangor as The National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) chairman, regarding the issue of strategic ligation challenge on shariah legislation in Malaysia

In addition to Hadi, Aswanizam also confirmed the presence of PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan among its attendees.

“We have issued invitations to other political parties as well and Bersatu said they will attend but we have yet to receive the name list from them,” he added.

When asked on the specific purpose of the rally, Aswanizam said their goal is to spread awareness to all stakeholders who have the power and pressure them to do their roles.

He added that the police and Putrajaya Corporation have been informed about the rally, claiming that both authorities have asked them to follow the required procedures.

Nik Elin and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Natasha Tengku Abdul Rahman had in May filed a constitutional challenge to nullify and void 20 provisions in the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019.

The mother-daughter pair claimed the Kelantan legislative assembly has no powers to make criminal laws, and cited Article 4(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Under Article 4(4), the validity of any laws made by the Parliament or state legislature can be questioned in court.