Tan Sri Annuar Musa gives a speech at Padang Merbok during the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — An Umno leader today admitted that he, along with today’s “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” was “racist” in nature, but insisted that this was still in line with Islamic teachings.

Tan Sri Annuar Musa maintained that acting in defence of Malay honour was permitted in Islam so long as other races were not oppressed in the process.

“Being racial is endorsed in Islam as long as you are not cruel towards other people. This rally if you say is racist, yes. What are you scared of? Islam has put in place guidelines, what is not allowed is racism that is cruel towards other races.

“In Indonesia, you cannot have a Chinese name but in Malaysia you can. If that is considered racial, then yes, I am racial. But my being racial is guided by religion. I am racist, Islamically,” he said after the rally ended at Padang Merbok today.

Riot police form a wall at the entrance of Petaling Street to prevent protesters from breaking through, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Protesters and riot police still a tight knot at the entrance of Petaling Street, moments after water cannons were fired to disperse the crowd, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Kamles Kumar Riot police fire water cannons at the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu protesters near Petaling Street, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Riot police fire water cannons at the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu protesters near Petaling Street, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa A protester dressed in red with red face paint waves a Malaysian flag during the rally in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May The crowd chants while listening to a speech at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Tan Sri Annuar Musa gives a speech at Padang Merbok during the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choy May Pesaka President Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam gives a speech at Padang Merbuk, in Kuala Lumpur, on September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam speaks at the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ in Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Datuk Ibrahim Ali speaks at the ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ in Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Participants of the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' rally head to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Red shirt protesters marching through Jalan Sultan Ismail heading to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Protesters marching through Jalan Sultan Ismail heading to Padang Merbok, September 16, 2015. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa The crowd walking into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May A woman wears a red scarf as she attends the red shirt protest in Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May A group of red shirt protesters hold a sign as they walk into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Hundreds of protesters gather at the National Mosque. ― Picture by Choo Choy May The crowd walking into Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015. — Picture by Choo Choo May Merchandise branded ‘Himpunan Maruah Melayu’ being sold on the street. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Hundreds of protesters have been spotted at the National Mosque. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Large groups of people are seen streaming into the city for #Merah169. ― Picture by Aizyl Azlee Protesters are seen marching into Padang Merbok. ― Picture by Choo Choy May Protesters are seen streaming into the city for #Merah169. ― Picture by Aizyl Azlee Previous Next

He added that the Malays have done the other races a great service by sharing the country and its resources them.

“And when has the Malays even behaved cruelly towards other races? We share this country, we shared citizenship. We share all our rights. Who was the one who made thus county open to other races? It was the Malays,” he added.

Thousands of red-shirted people were bussed into the federal capital this morning to take part in a rally officially called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or the United People’s Assembly, but which drew concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.

The protest was marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, however, with one attendee recorded calling a reporter “Crazy Chinese pig”, among other insults.

The “red shirts” first gathered at several points in the city, including Kompleks Kraf Malaysia in Jalan Conlay, the Putra World Trade Centre and the National Mosque before marching through major roads to converge at Padang Merbok near Parliament.

The rally, said to be in support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership, was to counter to last month’s two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister’s resignation.

The ruling Malay party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, but has not prohibited its members from participating in today’s demonstration organised by martial arts group Pesaka.