Anti-Trump rally in KL to go ahead amid outrage over 'genocide speech' in Knesset

A group of youths and university students has vowed to go ahead with a mass rally to protest Donald Trump's presence in Malaysia, amid mounting anger against the US president after his recent speech praising the Israeli military for its "good use" of weapons supplied by Washington during its campaign in Gaza.

The Anti-Trump Secretariat, which is planning a rally on Oct 26, also said that it did not need to deal with the police or Kuala Lumpur City Hall for permission or to coordinate with the security plans for Trump's visit and the Asean Summit, which will see the closure of several major roads in the capital city.

This comes after several anti-Israel protests prompted high-handed actions by police to prevent participants from gathering in front of the US embassy, drawing public outrage and an outburst of criticism on social media.

"Based on our experience, the police often restrict freedom of assembly even though it is guaranteed by law," said Sharifah Haura Uzzahra Syed Abdul Rahman, the spokesman for the secretariat which has been organising rallies and activities urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to withdraw the invitation to Trump.

She also said that the authorities would try to block the rally under the pretext of security measures in conjunction with the Asean Summit.

Nevertheless, she maintained that there was no need to seek permission from the authorities as the right to assemble was guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

She cited the Federal Court's decision in a case involving Muda leader Amir Hadi, where the judges unanimously ruled that the provision of the Peaceful Assembly Act requiring police notification was unconstitutional.

She said the organisers also had their own team to ensure security throughout the rally at Ampang Park, not far from the US embassy complex, one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the capital.

"We will make sure that everything proceeds smoothly," she told MalaysiaNow.

"Whether there is violence or restrictions on the public depends on how the authorities act on that day."

The rally is expected to begin at 5pm and aims to be one of the biggest public assemblies in Malaysia protesting the US assistance to Israel throughout its campaign in Gaza.

It is expected to bring together activist groups, student associations and NGOs that reject US intervention and its economic and military influence in the region.

"Our protest is not only towards Trump, but against the entire system that makes the people of the global south victims of economic, racial, and military oppression," said Sharifah.

Anwar has so far resisted calls from multiple quarters including prominent thinkers, pro-Palestinian activists, and isolated voices from within his own government coalition for the cancellation of Trump's Asean Summit invite.

He said the invitation was issued on behalf of Asean, and that Trump's visit could be used to "negotiate" with Washington to end the oppression of the Israeli regime.

'Genocidal speech'

Trump, speaking before the Israeli leadership at the Knesset on Oct 13, had praised the use of weapons supplied by the US to the Zionist regime throughout the war in Gaza.

"And we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly. I mean, Bibi (Netanyahu) would call me so many times, 'Can you get me this weapon, that weapon, that weapon?' Some of them I never heard of, Bibi, and I made them. But we’d get them here, wouldn’t we, huh?

"And they are the best. They are the best. But you used them well. It also takes people that know how to use them, and you obviously used them very well. But so many, that Israel became strong and powerful, which, ultimately, led to peace," he said in remarks met with outrage on social media, many of whom branded it as "genocidal speech".

"And yet, this devil is to be feted in Malaysia?" said Facebook user Norizan Othman.

"Trump is proud to have supplied weapons to Israel. PMX is proud to have spoken to Trump on the phone," said Zack Ganu.

Others said that the ceasefire agreement signed this week did not absolve Trump of war crimes.

Rosmaini Saait meanwhile said that Anwar could no longer rely on the excuse of wanting to negotiate a ceasefire with Trump.

"This is who PMX wants to bring over. He was trying hard to convince everyone that the invite to Trump was to resolve the Gaza issue. But before the visit, it has already been solved. So just cancel the invitation, don't invite that devil to Malaysia."

Several leaders from Amanah previously acknowledged the dilemma faced by the party led by Mohamad Sabu in having to support Anwar's stand on Trump's invite.

A source close to Amanah said concerns expressed by Mohamad, who in the past strongly opposed US policies in the Middle East, had gone unheeded by the prime minister.

"There was no other way, so Amanah had to accept the invitation and appease the supporters of Palestine by asking the police to allow the anti-Trump rally," said a former Amanah leader close to the party's top echelons.

When contacted by MalaysiaNow, Sheikh Khuzaifah, the youth chief of Amanah's Bukit Bintang division, said the party hoped that the anti-Trump rally would be allowed.

"The government could allow a peaceful assembly by arranging a suitable location, while at the same time giving Trump an official welcome.

"If he is welcomed but the demonstration is barred, it will give the impression that we support Trump, which is not true," he said.

Prominent activist Hishamuddin Rais meanwhile questioned the government for citing "economic realities" to justify Trump's invite.

"We have economic ties with the US, it's true. But so does Spain and Columbia, even China. They have not invited Donald Trump to their country," he said.

"The fact is, Palestine now tops the world's agenda and we also know the US support for Israel in this conflict, including through the supply of weapons. The 20,000kg of bombs dropped in Gaza came from America."